Are we ready for solar storms, submarine cable cuts, satellite disruptions, and extreme weather to disrupt communication networks and potentially trigger a “digital pandemic“?
A new report – “When digital systems fail: The hidden risks of our digital world„ – outlines risk scenarios on Earth, at sea, and in space, analysing the fragility of interconnected digital systems and offering a roadmap for preparedness.
Experts brought together by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and Sciences Po, call for coordinated action between countries to improve digital resilience and protect essential services like healthcare, finance, and emergency response.
“Resilience must be built into the DNA of the technologies we depend on,“ said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General. “This report urges us to consider the systemic nature of risks and rethink how we protect the systems that connect and empower humanity.“