International regulation of Submarine cables. An analysis of the different States’ practices

Abstract

The international legislation of submarine cables is described in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well in a vast number of articles and scholars. While the regulation applicable is established, state practice remains unclear. The present work, in the first part, will address the legal regime regarding submarine cables, to after, asks questions related to how states apply this regime, being crucial to understanding state practice. The present thesis will analyze Coastal State and Other’s state practice. The questions raised concern the freedom to lay submarine cables on the one hand, and the limitations established by the coastal state on the other hand.

The thesis concludes that the Law of the Sea Convention establishes a balance between coastal state and the state owner of the Submarine cables. In this scope, some different interests and benefits have to be considered regarding the repair and maintenance of submarine cables.