- Countries are building land-based fibre links through Israel, Jordan and the Gulf to avoid risks at sea.
- Governments are working together to manage data and cloud infrastructure in a more secure way.
What happened: Fibre routes and data centres reshape regional strategy
The ongoing war between Israel and Iran is pushing Middle Eastern countries to change how they build and use digital systems. A report from 11Stream, released in June 2025, states that the war is not only about military action but also about protecting digital infrastructure. The report says this conflict is a major turning point, as it involves more than just battles. There have also been cyberattacks, trade problems by sea, and proxy fights in various areas. These problems are now making countries think differently about how they connect to each other and the rest of the world.
To avoid unstable areas like the Red Sea and Suez Canal, Israel and its neighbours are now building new fibre routes over land. These routes go through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to reach the Gulf. The idea is to build strong connections that do not rely on the sea. At the same time, they are setting up new data centres in places like Israel’s Negev desert, northern Jordan and parts of Saudi Arabia. These centres are built to be strong and secure. They have their power systems, better cooling and strong protection against cyberattacks. These are not just ordinary data hubs. Governments now treat them like key parts of national security.
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Why it’s important
This change shows that governments are starting to see digital systems as part of their national defence. They are not only tools for the economy anymore. Things like fibre cables, cloud systems and data centres are now seen as important to keep a country safe. Because of the war, countries want to make sure their digital systems can still work if there is trouble. They are also worried about being attacked online or losing control over their own data.
The 11Stream report also says that governments are not doing this work alone. Countries are now starting to share rules for things like data storage and cloud services. They are building systems that can work across borders. This includes new laws to protect data and plans to control artificial intelligence. These changes are not just coming from governments. People in these countries also want safer and more private online spaces. So both leaders and citizens are helping to shape this new digital setup.
