WATRA attended the Second International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit, which held on the 2nd and 3rd of February 2026 in Porto, Portugal.
The two-day summit, organized by ITU and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and hosted by the Government of Portugal, built on the work that began at the first summit in Abuja last year. The summit featured high-level sessions, and expert panels, with interactive discussions aimed at enhancing the resilience and financing of this vital infrastructure. The event offered a unique platform for Member States and stakeholders to share experiences, explore innovative solutions, and help in collaboratively shaping strategies to bolster the resilience of global connectivity infrastructure.
WATRA’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Aliyu Aboki, was in attendance at the summit, and was a moderator for one of the panels on the second day of the summit. The panel, titled “Resilient Subsea Infrastructure for Underserved Regions”, was centered on making the economic case for submarine cables in underserved regions and identifying opportunities and resources to support connectivity.
One of the key outcomes of the summit was the endorsement of the Porto Summit Declaration, which sets out practical, non-binding guidance to strengthen international cooperation and enhance the resilience and protection of submarine cable infrastructure worldwide. Some of the other outcomes included the streamlining of regulation and coordination, strengthening data-driven risk prevention, accelerating repairs and joint maintenance of cables through clear authority and operational coordination, and mobilizing sustainable investment for inclusive resilience.
