7 QUESTIONS WITH RYAN WOPSCHALL

1. 

   RYAN WOPSCHALL, General Manager of ICPC

   What is the ICPC and its mission?
   The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) is the foremost global organization dedicated to the protection and resilience of submarine cables. It has over 200 members from more than 70 countries, including cable operators, owners, and manufacturers, along with government entities. The ICPC's mission focuses on collaborating with its members, governments, and other stakeholders to mitigate risks to cables, develop industry best practices, promote scientific research related to cables in the marine environment, and support legal frameworks for ocean sustainability.

2. How does the ICPC participate in the submarine cable industry?

   The ICPC acts as a key trade body representing about 98% of all international submarine fiber optic cable systems, including those in the power and renewable energy sectors. It supports member issues on cable protection, promotes best practices, engages with governments and other seabed users for resilient infrastructure, and sponsors research on emerging challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness of submarine cables' importance, leading to increased ICPC outreach and advocacy.

3. What advancements in submarine cable design or applications are included in ICPC Plenary '24?

   The 2024 ICPC Plenary in Singapore will highlight cable sensing technologies, an area bridging the gap between technological advancements and cable protection. Technologies such as distributed acoustic sensing and SMART cable sensing are gaining momentum for their environmental data collection capabilities and protection benefits.

4. What are the elements of ICPC's success?

   The ICPC credits its success to its long history since 1958, active Executive Committee, diverse and global membership, and its efforts to engage with governments, seabed users, and other stakeholders. The growth in submarine cable numbers and the organization's proactive, outward-facing approach have fueled its success.

5. How is the ICPC helping to promote a more diverse and inclusive cable industry?

   While much responsibility for promoting diversity and inclusion lies with its members, the ICPC has seen an increase in diversity among its Plenary attendees, including more women, younger people, and geographic diversity. This reflects the broader industry's growing awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion.

6. As sustainability becomes a critical issue, what is the ICPC doing to support a circular economy?

   The ICPC is exploring how submarine cables contribute to a sustainable, circular blue economy and addresses their environmental impact. Efforts include understanding emissions from cable vessels, exploring sustainable construction methods, and promoting industry responsibility towards sustainability.

7. How does the ICPC share and promote developments related to cable protection?

   The ICPC engages with members and the public through newsletters, environmental bulletins, public publications, media interviews, and conferences. It also shares updates via its website and the annual Plenary meeting. One key resource is the publication on best practices for protecting submarine telecommunications cables, aimed at advocating for cable resilience with governments.

To read the complete article, check out Issue 135 of the Sub Tel Forum Magazine here