Major telecommunications companies have called for urgent action to secure Europe’s digital lifelines following a string of suspected Russian attacks on cables in the Baltic Sea
“Subsea cable security must be a cornerstone of broader infrastructure protection efforts,” telecom firms including Vodafone, Orange and Telenor wrote in an open letter addressed to British, EU and NATO officials.
Their appeal comes amid concern across Europe following a string of suspected sabotage attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Since October 2023, at least 11 subsea cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea, with similar attacks reported in the North Sea.
British authorities have been closely tracking the movements of the Russian surveillance ship Yantar in the English Channel amid suspicions it may be mapping critical underwater infrastructure.
In January, NATO launched a new mission called Baltic Sentry that aims to provide “enhanced surveillance and deterrence” around the Baltic Sea.
In their letter, the telecom firms stressed that safeguarding network security must be an “absolute priority.”
They said: “With the rise in hybrid threats, including incidents affecting subsea cables in the Baltic and North Sea, we emphasize the importance of enhanced, coordinated action to safeguard Europe’s cross-border networks.”
The companies warned that the repercussions of damage to undersea cables “extend far beyond Europe, potentially affecting global internet and power infrastructure, international communications, financial transactions, and critical services worldwide.”
Often referred to as the “world’s information superhighways,” subsea cables transport over 95% of international data. Their vulnerability has sparked concerns of a global internet blackout.
The firms called for the entire subsea cable network to be classed as critical infrastructure to ensure the appropriate level of protection, while urging the EU, Britain and NATO to collaborate on intelligence sharing, as well as joint surveillance efforts.
“By acting now, we can safeguard the networks that underpin our shared future,” they said.
Their appeal comes amid concern across Europe following a string of suspected sabotage attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Since October 2023, at least 11 subsea cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea, with similar attacks reported in the North Sea.
British authorities have been closely tracking the movements of the Russian surveillance ship Yantar in the English Channel amid suspicions it may be mapping critical underwater infrastructure.
In January, NATO launched a new mission called Baltic Sentry that aims to provide “enhanced surveillance and deterrence” around the Baltic Sea.
In their letter, the telecom firms stressed that safeguarding network security must be an “absolute priority.”
They said: “With the rise in hybrid threats, including incidents affecting subsea cables in the Baltic and North Sea, we emphasize the importance of enhanced, coordinated action to safeguard Europe’s cross-border networks.”
The companies warned that the repercussions of damage to undersea cables “extend far beyond Europe, potentially affecting global internet and power infrastructure, international communications, financial transactions, and critical services worldwide.”
Often referred to as the “world’s information superhighways,” subsea cables transport over 95% of international data. Their vulnerability has sparked concerns of a global internet blackout.
The firms called for the entire subsea cable network to be classed as critical infrastructure to ensure the appropriate level of protection, while urging the EU, Britain and NATO to collaborate on intelligence sharing, as well as joint surveillance efforts.
“By acting now, we can safeguard the networks that underpin our shared future,” they said.
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