Could a low-frequency EMP like a strong solar flare reach the bottom of the ocean where Internet cables would be laying?
A specific scenario being that a large EMP reaches underwater Internet cables and fries Internet-related systems in Japan and America.

And since that sounds like an oddly specific scenario I should mention again that this is for a sci-fi story.  If large EMP’s can reach those cables, I am guessing that they would have to be laid wrapped in a flexible Faraday cage, and there would be frequent disruptions as sharks nibble at the cages (as they are known to do frequently with our cables now).


Mr. Ask

Data cables tend to be shielded already

And they're made up of fibre optics.