Growing digital dependence made societies extra weak to outages, cyberattacks: Vint Cerf, Googles Chief Internet Evangelist

An growing digital dependence has made societies extra weak to outages and cyberattacks, cautioned Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist at Google, in Bengaluru on Monday (November 10, 2025).

Mr. Cerf, also referred to as one of many fathers of the Internet, urged engineers to design resilient networks and referred to as for a stronger give attention to resilience and redundancy in international communication programs as Internet dependence deepened globally.

“The subsequent section of networking will likely be outlined by resilience, range, and ubiquitous entry,’’ he acknowledged whereas delivering a keynote at Future Networks World Forum 2025, in Bengaluru.

“The Internet is right here to remain, and it’s going to get larger and greater,” he additional mentioned.

He additionally spoke about the way forward for networking that was unfolding via the enlargement of subsea fibre programs and the rise of low-Earth-orbit satellite tv for pc networks, that are extending connectivity to distant areas, ocean routes, Pacific Islands, transport roues, and locations the place cables are impractical.

“Physically numerous cable infrastructure makes the system extra resilient,” he identified citing Google’s personal investments in redundant subsea networks.

Mr. Cerf recalled a current cyber disruption incident that occurred at London’s Heathrow Airport, the place check-ins needed to be carried out utilizing cellular QR readers and cloud-based programs.

“The episode underscored the necessity for built-in restoration mechanisms in essential digital infrastructure. If your cellular doesn’t work, you’re going to have a nasty day,” he warned.

According to Mr. Cert, AI and quantum applied sciences are key vectors shaping the following chapter of Internet evolution, alongside space-based and tactile Internet purposes.

Admonishing community engineers, he mentioned, “They should ask: what may go mistaken and what may another person trigger you to go mistaken, to make sure programs stay immune to any form of downtimes, failure and malicious interference.’’

“Because billions of persons are counting on you and me to make communication programs work — on demand. Remember that,’’ pioneer of the Internet additional mentioned, including, “The subsequent section of networking will likely be outlined not solely by attain, however by its potential to face up to failure.”