The protection of undersea internet cables has gained urgency over the past year due to increasing sabotage threats from hostile nations. This follows significant incidents like the damage to the Estlink-2 power cable between Finland and Estonia in December 2024. A consortium of technology firms and operators is now urging the European Union (EU), the UK, and NATO to bolster efforts to secure Europe’s vital cross-border networks.
Industry Call for Action
A letter signed by companies including GlobalConnect, Alcatel, Submarine Networks, NKT, Orange, Proximus, Telecom Italia Sparkle, TEF, Vodafone, and Telenor highlighted the crucial state of Europe’s security and resilience. The letter emphasized that subsea cables are essential for connectivity, competitiveness, defense readiness, and economic stability within Europe.
Emphasis on Coordinated Security Measures
The letter addresses the rise in hybrid threats, detailing incidents impacting subsea cables in the Baltic and North Sea, and underscores the necessity of coordinated actions to enhance security for these networks. The signatories advocate for renewed collaboration among EU/EEA and UK authorities, along with NATO, to effectively address these emerging challenges.
Support for the EU Action Plan
According to the firms, the EU Action Plan on Cable Security outlines a clear strategy to improve the resilience and security of subsea cables. They expressed a strong commitment to engage with the European Commission, the UK, and NATO to realize the Action Plan’s objectives. The integration of industry stakeholders is pivotal to establishing a successful implementation roadmap.
Technological Investments and Funding
The consortium underscored the need for investments in advanced technologies aimed at detecting and mitigating damage to subsea cables. They noted that funding sources, such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the European Defence Fund, are essential for supporting these initiatives. They stressed the importance of increasing the budget for digital infrastructure development.
Enhancing Resilience through Infrastructure Development
To further enhance resilience, expanding both terrestrial and subsea routes is crucial. The letter advocates for augmenting objectives related to resilience within the CEF framework to prevent vulnerabilities associated with single points of failure.
Strengthening Cybersecurity Frameworks
The firms pointed out that maintaining a high level of security and resilience across Europe relies on existing frameworks like the NIS2 Directive, which sets forth new cybersecurity guidelines for network and information systems while encouraging best practices in the industry.
Global Implications and Collaborative Approaches
The signatories emphasized that subsea cables should be recognized as critical infrastructure. Damage to these cables could have far-reaching impacts, affecting global internet and power systems, international communication, and essential services. They advocate for harmonized approaches that align security objectives with operational viability and risk-based best practices, in collaboration with industry experts.
Furthermore, partnerships with industry can capitalize on advanced technologies and expertise, boosting situational awareness, accelerating response times, and enhancing repair capabilities. Simplifying governance and permitting processes will expedite the necessary security measures, making subsea cable security integral to broader infrastructure protection strategies. Action taken now will help secure the networks critical to our collective future.