Safeguarding Subsea Cables: Protecting the Internet's Lifeline

Undersea cables are the lifeblood of the internet, carrying vast amounts of data across the globe. 
 
However, these vital infrastructure components are increasingly becoming targets of geopolitical tensions and cyberattacks.
 
Submarine cables are the backbone of global telecommunications, enabling over 95% of international data transfer. 
 
Any disruption to these cables can have significant economic, security, and communication impacts.

 
The realization that damage to the critical infrastructure components can be part of a broader strategic attack has prompted countries to strengthen their cybersecurity and physical security measures.
 
There were reports that a Chinese ship, the Yi Peng 3, was suspected of dragging its anchor for over 100 miles, causing damage to two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea in November 2024. 
 
This incident raised concerns about the potential for intentional sabotage of critical infrastructure particularly in the Asia-Pacific.
 
These events highlight vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and underscore geopolitical tensions in contested waters.
 
In November 2024, two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea were severed in a span of 24 hours, raising significant concerns about the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in Europe. 
 
The incidents—one cutting a cable between Lithuania and Sweden and the other disrupting connectivity between Germany and Finland—underscore the vulnerability of submarine cables to sabotage or accidents, particularly in a geopolitically sensitive region.
 
European governments investigating the November 2024 undersea cable cuts in the Baltic Sea suspect the Chinese-flagged bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 of deliberate sabotage. 
The ship departed from a Russian port on the Baltic Sea, crossed the areas where two undersea cables were severed, and exhibited suspicious behaviour, including turning off its transponder.
 
Authorities are increasingly pointing to this incident as a case of targeted hybrid warfare involving a state-linked actor, given the vessel's movements and operational anomalies.
 
Moving ahead, Nations are increasingly recognizing the strategic importance of undersea cables and the potential threat they face. As a result, countries are taking steps to strengthen their cybersecurity measures and infrastructure resilience.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-Chief-VARINDIA