New submarine cable resilience body announced as another data cable damaged
Follows a series of cable cuts and suspicious activities by ships linked with Russia
A new submarine cable resilience body has been announced following the cutting of undersea cables in the Baltic last month – just as more data cables between Finland and Sweden have been found damaged.
The International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience is intended to provide “best practices for governments and industry players to ensure the timely deployment and repair of submarine cables, reduce the risks of damage, and enhance the continuity of communications over the cables”, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), announcing the formation of the organisation.
“Submarine cables carry over 99% of international data exchanges, making their resilience a global imperative," said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.
“The Advisory Body will mobilise expertise from around the world to ensure this vital digital infrastructure remains resilient in the face of disasters, accidents, and other risks."
Subsea cables are routinely damaged, with between around 150 and 200 faults occurring around the world every year, requiring an average of about three cable repairs per week.
The damage is typically caused by the extreme conditions on the seabed on which they rest and operate, as well as human activity such as fishing and shipping.
However, there have been an increasing number of incidences of alleged sabotage, particularly involving cases where it is believed ships have deliberately dragged anchor.
The latest occurred just last month, when a Chinese-registered and -crewed ship, fresh out of port from St Petersburg, dragged its anchor for more than 100 miles, damaging two subsea communications cables in the process.
Sweden has officially asked authorities in China for assistance over the incident.
Policing of subsea cables is poor, with the millions of miles of cable beyond the capabilities of even the largest of navies to protect. Repairs can take months because of a lack of specialist ships.
The new Advisory Body will meet at least twice a year. It will consult with experts on telecoms, digital resilience infrastructure development, infrastructure investment and international policy to provide strategic guidance and encourage sector-wide collaboration.
The announcement of the new body comes as further evidence of cable sabotage – this time land-based – between Finland and Sweden has emerged.
The cable was reportedly cut in not one, but two places, according to Finnish media. The damage has been described as “extensive.”
Coordinated sabotage of land-based fibre optic communications cables also occurred at the opening of the Paris Olympics this summer.
Russia is strongly believed to be behind a wave of sabotage across Europe, as well as a string of otherwise unexplained events across Europe, including a plot to murder the CEO of German defence contractor Rheinmetall.