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Abstract

This article explores the changing global political economy of internet infrastructure by looking at data centres and submarine cables. Data on ownership and investment patterns is used to track developments in the industry. The article focuses on the increasing prominence of US and Chinese hyperscalers in the ownership and control of critical internet infrastructure and the strategies and operational needs that have driven this shift. These include most notably the development of AI services and the provision of media content. The analysis highlights the pursuit of market and infrastructure power as well as the transition away from the telecoms companies towards hyperscalers. The final section narrows the focus to the state and the intensification of geopolitical competition between China and the United States. It emphasizes the role of submarine cable policy as an arena of competition between the United States and China. The article explores the relationship between infrastructure and power, using insights from the political economy of communication, international political economy and platform/infrastructure studies.

Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
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2026-03-12
2026-04-21

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/content/journals/10.1386/jdmp_00192_1
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Between compute and geopolitics: The hyperscale pursuit of global infrastructural power
Intellect ; https://doi.org/10.1386/jdmp_00192_1
/content/journals/10.1386/jdmp_00192_1
/content/journals/10.1386/jdmp_00192_1
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  • Article Type: Article
Keywords: China ; submarine internet cables ; political economy of communication ; platforms ; internet infrastructure ; AI infrastructure ; data centres

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