attended the Strait of Hormuz, a critical digital lifeline with cables like AAE-1 traversing the area, linking Asia, the Middle East, and Europe with landing points in the UAE and Oman. Iran warned that damage could disrupt Gulf states' internet and digital economies, describing the strait as a critical chokepoint for connectivity, though some analyses say severing cables would degrade speed. Ongoing projects led by operators like regional operators aim to augment capacity but heighten exposure to geopolitical risk in the chokepoint. New systems expand capacity while stakes rise in the Hormuz corridor, where subsea cables sit at the intersection of oil routes and digital traffic.