Is Data the New Oil? The Internet’s Hidden War & Global Power Shift episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 23, 2026 · 6 MIN

Is Data the New Oil? The Internet’s Hidden War & Global Power Shift

from Rethinking Tech · host Rethinking Tech

RT UpdatesPipelines aren’t just for oil anymore.Because right now… countries in the Middle East are racing to build overland data corridors to Europe — and it’s happening fast.Not because it’s cheaper.Not because it’s easier.But because something broke in how the internet actually works.And once you see it… you can’t unsee it.Episode Intro:In this episode of Rethinking Tech, we break down a shift that feels quiet — but has massive global implications.After recent disruptions to subsea cables, the Gulf is now exploring something new: treating data like oil infrastructure.But here’s the tension…If the internet is already fragile under the sea — is putting it on land really safer?Or is this about something else entirely?What this episode covers:Why the internet depends on a handful of fragile subsea cablesWhat recent disruptions revealed about a 5-month repair realityThe Middle East’s push for overland “data pipelines”Why these routes may be even more exposed (conflict zones, hacking, land rights)Why big tech isn’t leaving — despite rising risksThe satellite alternative… and why it’s still not replacing cablesThe bigger question: infrastructure vs influenceWhy this matters:We’ve been sold the idea of “the cloud.”But the truth is — the internet is physical.And right now, it’s vulnerable in ways most people don’t realize.If a few cables go down, entire regions can lose access to banking, healthcare, logistics — everything.So this isn’t just about infrastructure.It’s about who controls the flow of data… and who doesn’t.Because whoever builds the next version of the internet…doesn’t just move data —they shape the future.🔗 Connect with Us📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

RT UpdatesPipelines aren’t just for oil anymore.Because right now… countries in the Middle East are racing to build overland data corridors to Europe — and it’s happening fast.Not because it’s cheaper.Not because it’s easier.But because something broke in how the internet actually works.And once you see it… you can’t unsee it.Episode Intro:In this episode of Rethinking Tech, we break down a shift that feels quiet — but has massive global implications.After recent disruptions to subsea cables, the Gulf is now exploring something new: treating data like oil infrastructure.But here’s the tension…If the internet is already fragile under the sea — is putting it on land really safer?Or is this about something else entirely?What this episode covers:Why the internet depends on a handful of fragile subsea cablesWhat recent disruptions revealed about a 5-month repair realityThe Middle East’s push for overland “data pipelines”Why these routes may be even more exposed (conflict zones, hacking, land rights)Why big tech isn’t leaving — despite rising risksThe satellite alternative… and why it’s still not replacing cablesThe bigger question: infrastructure vs influenceWhy this matters:We’ve been sold the idea of “the cloud.”But the truth is — the internet is physical.And right now, it’s vulnerable in ways most people don’t realize.If a few cables go down, entire regions can lose access to banking, healthcare, logistics — everything.So this isn’t just about infrastructure.It’s about who controls the flow of data… and who doesn’t.Because whoever builds the next version of the internet…doesn’t just move data —they shape the future.🔗 Connect with Us📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

NOW PLAYING

Is Data the New Oil? The Internet’s Hidden War & Global Power Shift

0:00 6:38

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Rethinking Tech?

This episode is 6 minutes long.

When was this Rethinking Tech episode published?

This episode was published on March 23, 2026.

What is this episode about?

RT UpdatesPipelines aren’t just for oil anymore.Because right now… countries in the Middle East are racing to build overland data corridors to Europe — and it’s happening fast.Not because it’s cheaper.Not because it’s easier.But because something...

Can I download this Rethinking Tech episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!