Several subsea cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged in November, sparking fears of sabotage. Swedish investigators found no clear proof of deliberate action, though suspicions remain. A Chinese vessel, present during the incident, is under scrutiny.
A group of major European telecoms, including Vodafone and Orange, urges urgent EU, UK, and NATO action to protect subsea cables amid rising hybrid threats. Citing recent incidents and geopolitical tensions, the coalition supports enhanced cross-border collaboration and the EU’s Cable Security Action Plan to safeguard Europe’s connectivity.
The E2A transpacific subsea cable promises to revolutionize telecommunications infrastructure, linking Japan and the USA by 2028. Connecting major regions like Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan to the US, this project is backed by telecom giants Chunghwa Telecom, SoftBank, SK Broadband, and Verizon.
Sparkle and Turkcell are revolutionizing internet connectivity with a new 4,000 km subsea cable linking Europe and the Mediterranean. Enhancing capacity to over 25 terabits per second per fiber pair, this collaboration connects Turkey, Greece, and Italy.
Sweden is investigating a potential sabotage of the Cinia C-Lion1 undersea telecom cable. Despite the damage, the link between Finland and Germany remains active.
Airtel has achieved a milestone by landing the SEA-ME-WE 6 cable in Chennai, enhancing global connectivity. This expansion brings increased network capacity, reinforcing Airtel’s place in telecoms.
Meta’s Project Waterworth sets a new benchmark in subsea cable infrastructure, aiming to enhance global connectivity through over 50,000 kilometers of cables. This groundbreaking effort will streamline voip services across continents, crucial for sustaining global communication.
China Telecom announced the early completion of the 10,000-km Asia Direct Cable (ADC), the first new submarine link in the Asia-Pacific in over eight years. Developed by a consortium, ADC delivers over 160 Tbps capacity, easing congestion and enhancing cloud and data services.
Ooredoo, in partnership with Alcatel Submarine Networks, has launched the GCC’s largest submarine cable, connecting seven Middle Eastern countries. With up to 720Tbps capacity and 24 fiber pairs, this high-speed infrastructure enhances regional connectivity, supports AI and telecom growth.
The backbone of the internet relies heavily on submarine cables, responsible for around 99% of global data transmission. As the threats to these pivotal cables mount, the UK’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has initiated an enquiry.
