Governments face growing pressure to regain digital sovereignty without discouraging investment. This article outlines ten evidence-based steps to help regulators balance national interests with fair competition in the submarine cable industry, from data-driven policymaking and transparent permits to resilience measures and equitable regulatory fees. A roadmap for protecting connectivity and strengthening sovereignty.

Regulatory fees serve several purposes: to compensate states for the use of their maritime space, to ensure environmental protection, and to support administrative processes related to the protection of submarine cables, including instances of conflict with other new seabed infrastructure.