Latest news with #SubCom
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Ship captain convicted of poaching lobsters, crabs and mussels
A Vietnamese national and captain of a 400-foot cargo ship docked in Newington was arrested last week by Fish and Game officers after receiving a tip about illegal lobster trapping. Bui Cong Doai, 44, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for lobster and crab fishing without a license and illegal possession of someone else's lobster gear, as well as five other violations. He had a Vietnamese passport and United States visa, according to Conservation Officer Justin Whipple. In all, he paid $1,269 as part of the conviction. Mussels Bui Cong Doai, 44, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for lobster and crab fishing without a license and illegal possession of someone else's lobster gear, as well as five other violations. The cargo ship, Franbo Lohas, which sails under the Panama flag, had been docked on the Piscataqua River in Newington. Fish and Game noticed multiple ropes extending from the ship with traps belonging to a licensed New Hampshire commercial fisherman. 'There were four lines total off of the ship, two large and two small,' Whipple said. 'The two large each had a trap they were actively using to fish.' Officers found lobsters, crabs and bags of blue mussels. A female egg-bearing lobster was found in an undersized cage just to keep it alive. The investigation started after Whipple received a tip from a local lobsterman who had his gear tangled in lines coming from the cargo ship. 'When he retrieved his gear, he pulled up what was clearly an illegal lobster pot,' he said. 'He took some photos, gave me a call and reported it.' Fish and Game needed to get permission from the Coast Guard and the pier operator SubCom to board the ship. Based on information provided to Fish and Game, this is the first time the ship docked in New Hampshire. Bui Cong Doai, 44, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for lobster and crab fishing without a license and illegal possession of someone else's lobster gear, as well as five other violations. 'We had probable cause based on the photos to do the investigation with the blessing of the Coast Guard,' Whipple said. 'We wanted to do it quickly because we weren't sure when the ship would be leaving.' The violations include illegal trap construction, possession of a short egg-bearing lobster, unlawful possession of crabs, unlawful possession of blue mussels and an egg-bearing Jonah crab. Fish and Game was able to work with the courts for an expedited arraignment, which led to the conviction. The egg-bearing lobster likely had never been caught before because it did not have a 'v-notch' marking, which fishermen use to mark breeding lobster. 'Hopefully, it will encourage people to keep giving us calls if they see anything skeptical and know that we are willing to get out there and do the investigation and the legwork,' Whipple said. He's glad the case was able to be settled before the ship left port.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China's new underwater tool cuts deeps, exposing vulnerability of vital network of subsea cables
Chinese researchers have unveiled a new deep-sea tool capable of cutting through the world's most secure subsea cables − and it has many in the West feeling a little jittery. The development, first revealed in February 2025 in the Chinese-language journal Mechanical Engineering, was touted as a tool for civilian salvage and seabed mining. But the ability to sever communications lines 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) below the sea's surface − far beyond the operational range of most existing infrastructure − means that the tool can be used for other purposes with far-reaching implications for global communications and security. That is because undersea cables sustain the world's international internet traffic, financial transactions and diplomatic exchanges. Recent incidents of cable damage near Taiwan and in northern Europe have already raised concerns of these systems' vulnerabilities − and suspicions about the role of state-linked actors. The growing sophistication and openness of underwater technology evidenced by the latest news from China suggest that undersea infrastructure may play a larger role in future strategic competition. Indeed, this development adds a new layer to the broader challenge of securing critical infrastructure amid expanding technological reach and the rise of so called 'gray zone' tactics – antagonisms that take place between direct war and peace. Despite their unassuming appearance, undersea cables form the backbone of modern communication systems. Stretching around 870,000 miles (over 1.4 million kilometers) across every ocean, these cables transmit almost 100% of global internet communication. These information superhighways are a major engine for the modern economy and are indispensable for things such as almost instantaneous financial transactions and real-time diplomatic and military communications. If all these cables were suddenly severed, only a sliver of U.S. communication traffic could be restored using every satellite in orbit. The entire system is built, owned, operated and maintained by the private sector. Indeed, approximately 98% of these cables are installed by a handful of firms. As of 2021, the U.S. company SubCom, French firm Alcatel Submarine Networks and Japanese firm Nippon Electric Company collectively held an 87% market share. China's HMN Tech holds another 11%. Tech giants including Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft now own or lease roughly half of the undersea bandwidth worldwide, according to analysis by the U.S.-based telecommunications research group TeleGeography. The very characteristics that make undersea cables effective also render them highly vulnerable. Built to be lightweight and efficient, they are exposed to a variety of natural hazards, including underwater volcanic eruptions, typhoons and floods. But human activity is still the primary cause of cable damage, whether it's from accidental anchor drags or inadvertent entanglement with trawler nets. Now, security experts are increasingly concerned that future human disruptions might be intentional, with nations launching coordinated attacks on undersea cables as part of a hybrid war strategy. Such assaults could disrupt not only civilian communications but also critical military networks. An adversary, for example, could cut off a nation's command structures from intelligence feeds, sensor data and communication with deployed forces. The ramifications extend even to nuclear deterrence: Without reliable communication, a nuclear-armed state might lose the ability to control or monitor its strategic weapons. The loss of communications, even for a few minutes, could be catastrophic. It could mean the difference between a successful defense and a crippling first strike. In recent years, Western policymakers have become particularly concerned about the capabilities of Russia and China to exploit the vulnerabilities of undersea cables. One particularly illustrative incident occurred in 2023 when Taiwanese authorities accused two Chinese vessels of cutting the only two subsea cables supplying internet to Taiwan's Matsu Islands. The resulting digital isolation of 14,000 residents for six weeks was not an one-off episode. Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has pointed to a pattern, noting that Chinese vessels have disrupted cable operations on 27 occasions since 2018. In January 2025, Taiwan's coast guard blamed a Cameroon- and Tanzania-flagged vessel crewed by seven Chinese nationals and operated by a Hong Kong-based company when an undersea cable was severed off the island's northeastern coast. Such incidents, often described as gray-zone aggression, are designed to wear down an adversary's resilience and test the limits of response. China's recent push to enhance its cable-cutting capabilities coincides with a surge in its military drills around Taiwan, including a number of recent exercises. Similar cable disruptions have occurred in the Baltic Sea. In October 2023, a telecom cable connecting Sweden and Estonia was damaged along with a gas pipeline. In January 2025, a cable linking Latvia and Sweden was breached, triggering NATO patrols and a Swedish seizure of a vessel suspected of sabotage tied to Russian activities. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, even hinted at the possibility of targeting undersea communication cables as retaliation for actions such as the Nord Stream pipeline explosions in 2023. The involvement of state-linked vessels in incidents operating under flags of convenience − that is, registered to another country − further complicates efforts to attribute and deter such attacks. It isn't just security and defense at risk. The modern financial system is predicated on the assumption of continuous, high-speed connectivity; any interruption, however brief, could disrupt markets, halt trading and lead to significant monetary losses. Given the strategic importance of undersea cables and the multifaceted risks they face, Western governments intent on preventing further conflict would be wise to find a comprehensive and internationally coordinated way to secure the infrastructure against threats. One clear option would be to bolster repair and maintenance capacities. Currently, a significant vulnerability stems from the overreliance on Chinese repair ships. China's robust maritime industry and state-supported investments in global telecommunications has contributed to the Asian nation taking a prominent position when it comes to cable repair ships. The protection of undersea cables should not, I believe, be viewed as the responsibility of any single nation but as a collective priority for all nations reliant on this infrastructure. As such, international frameworks and agreements could facilitate information sharing, standardize security protocols and establish rapid response mechanisms in the event of a cable breach. But such international efforts would be fighting against the tide. The incidents in Taiwan, the Baltic Sea and elsewhere come as great power competition intensifies between the U.S. and China. China, in developing deep-water cable-cutting technology, may be sending a message of intent. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's 'America First' approach signals a shift that could complicate efforts to foster partnerships for the general global good. The defense of undersea cables reflects the challenges of our hyperconnected world, requiring a balance of innovation, strategy and cooperation. But as nations including China and Russia seemingly test and probe this vital global infrastructure, it appears the systems underpinning the West's prosperity and security could become one of its greatest vulnerabilities. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: John Calabrese, American University Read more: Undersea cables are the unseen backbone of the global internet Treating Nord Stream blasts as a whodunit misses the point – and plays into Russia's plan to distract and divide This chart explains why Trump backflipped on tariffs. The economic damage would have been huge John Calabrese does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liberty Networks, Gold Data, Sparkle, and SubCom Announce Execution and Enforcement of MANTA Subsea Cable System Contract
International subsea cable in the Gulf set to connect Mexico and the USA with Central and Latin America, provide new low-latency routes to key regional data hubs MIAMI, FL and NEWINGTON, NH, USA, March 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Liberty Networks, Gold Data, and Sparkle—the partners behind MANTA, a revolutionary new subsea cable system connecting Mexico and the USA with Central and Latin America, have announced that SubCom has been awarded the design, manufacture, and installation of the MANTA system, and the contract entered into force (CIF) today. MANTA aims to improve traffic flow in the region by providing high bandwidth, low-latency routes interconnecting major data hubs in Mexico City, Queretaro, Bogota, and Panama City with the USA utilizing new landing access points in Veracruz, Mexico, and San Blas, Florida. SubCom will manufacture the fiber optic cable and other optical components for the MANTA system at its campus in Newington, NH, USA using Open Cable specifications, supporting up to 22 Tb/s per fiber pair (FP). All three consortium partners will access the northern portion of MANTA, connecting the USA to Mexico, and Sparkle will join Liberty Networks on the southern portion, accessing Panama and Colombia. "We are extremely grateful to have reached this significant milestone in the realization of the MANTA subsea cable system," said Ray Collins, SVP of Infrastructure and Corporate Strategy at Liberty Latin America, Enrico Bagnasco, CEO of Sparkle, and Renato Tradardi, CEO of Gold Data in a joint statement. "With this new infrastructure in place and operational, MANTA will address the increasing demands for high-speed connectivity while enhancing data center interconnectivity across the Americas. By providing a robust and reliable network infrastructure, MANTA will play a pivotal role in accelerating digital innovation, empowering businesses, and supporting the next generation of technological advancements." Estimated at 5,400 km in length, MANTA consists of an up to 18FP repeatered trunk segment connecting San Blas, Florida with Cartagena, Colombia with branches to Veracruz, Mexico, North Miami, Florida, Cancun, Mexico, Maria Chiquita, Panama plus a stubbed branching unit facing the Cayman Islands for future traffic expansion. "SubCom is honored to supply and deploy MANTA, which will provide a new reliable and resilient data route to a region that is seeing consistent demand for improved connectivity," said David Coughlan, CEO of SubCom. "Our capabilities as an advanced technology provider, high-quality manufacturer, and safe and efficient deployment partner will all be on exhibit during this project. We look forward to delivering on the vision of the partners and making MANTA a reality." About Liberty Networks Liberty Networks is a leading infrastructure and enterprise connectivity provider in Latin America and the Caribbean, connecting approximately 30 countries with nearly 50,000 kilometers of submarine fiber optic cable and 17,000 kilometers of terrestrial networks. At Liberty Networks, we partner with enterprises, carriers, and business communities, leveraging our expansive network infrastructure, next-generation solutions portfolio, and data center network to provide a solid foundation that enables business success across the region. To learn more about Liberty Networks, visit and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. About Gold Data Gold Data is a multinational, award-winning technology company specializing in telecommunications infrastructure and services. The company provides direct connectivity across the Americas and the Caribbean, interconnecting more than 156 Points of Presence (PoPs) and 76 data centers across 35 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. With a visionary approach to next-generation connectivity, Gold Data leverages its strategic PoPs, diverse subsea capacity, and fully-owned network to deliver comprehensive end-to-end solutions for multinational corporations (MNCs), global carriers, and OTT providers. For more information, please visit: About Sparkle Sparkle is TIM Group's Global Operator, first international service provider in Italy and among the top worldwide, offering a full range of infrastructure and global connectivity services – capacity, IP, SD-WAN, colocation, IoT connectivity, roaming and voice – to national and international Carriers, OTTs, ISPs, Media/Content Providers, and multinational enterprises. A major player in the submarine cable industry, Sparkle owns and manages a network of more than 600,000 km of fiber spanning from Europe to Africa and the Middle East, the Americas and Asia. Its sales force is active worldwide and distributed over 33 countries. Find out more about Sparkle by following its X and LinkedIn profiles or visiting the website at About SubCom SubCom engineers, manufactures, and installs subsea fiber optic data cables - the unsung heroes of global communication. With an unrelenting focus on quality, reliability, and value, SubCom offers flexible end-to-end building blocks for the high-tech networks that are the backbone of the world's digital infrastructure. Since 1955, SubCom has deployed enough cable to circle the equator more than 21 times. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Liberty Networks Claudia SubCom Courtney McDanielinfo@ Sign in to access your portfolio
