Crossing multiple national borders is a major political undertaking. It is far more simpler to lay a subsea cable in international waters, especially when host

Crossing multiple national borders is a major political undertaking. It is far more simpler to lay a subsea cable in international waters, especially when hostile nations are concerned. As to the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal, there really are few or no alternatives, that's why there are so many cables there. It's also why Egypt makes serious bank on permits and other fees. We are talking hundreds of millions of dollars.