Latest news with #subseaCables
Japan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Southeast Asia joins Europe's calls to defend subsea cables
Defense officials from Europe and Southeast Asia called for stronger collaboration to protect the global network of subsea cables as concerns grow over threats to this vital infrastructure. Countries like Singapore and Malaysia are becoming key hubs for the roughly 600 fiber-optic cables that carry nearly all of the world's data. Meanwhile, a spike in cable damage in European waters, particularly in the Baltic Sea, has heightened fears about the network's vulnerability. "We need to work together to defend the entire network,' Singapore Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security forum on Sunday. "There's no point trying to defend the integrity and security of a submarine cable by looking at a point. We need both ends to be secure.' The issue came up repeatedly during the two-day summit in Singapore, with European officials keen to share what they've learned from the recent rise in subsea cable damage. Today, the global undersea cable network stretches about 1.4 million kilometers. With the demand for data center power projected to surge significantly with the advent of intensive artificial intelligence platforms, more cables are essential. Protecting them has become a key imperative in Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with incidents in its waters mostly involving tankers traveling to and from Russia, and in at least one case, a Chinese vessel. Despite suspicions of sabotage, there's been no strong evidence pointing to deliberate attacks, with the incidents more likely to be accidents or careless behavior. Still, NATO countries have increased patrols in key areas to ensure the safety of undersea infrastructure. The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas urged European and Asian partners to work together at sea to tackle covert "shadow fleets' of tankers and review maritime security laws. Protecting digital cable infrastructure is important for the Philippines too, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in an interview. He added that his country, which is locked in a long-running dispute with China in the South China Sea, is working to build up its capabilities to address the threat. Thailand also called the issue a pressing concern, with Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai saying the country is collaborating with Singapore and Brunei. He added undersea infrastructure faces risks not only from sabotage, but also from accidents and natural disasters.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Southeast Asia Joins Europe's Calls to Defend Subsea Cables
Defense officials from Europe and Southeast Asia called for stronger collaboration to protect the global network of subsea cables as concerns grow over threats to this vital infrastructure. Countries like Singapore and Malaysia are becoming key hubs for the roughly 600 fiber-optic cables that carry nearly all of the world's data. Meanwhile, a spike in cable damage in European waters, particularly in the Baltic Sea, has heightened fears about the network's vulnerability.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Nato base in Britain could be knocked out by undersea cable attack, MPs hear as Russia is blamed for string of seabed missions
A critical Nato base in Britain could be knocked out by an undersea cable attack, a parliamentary committee has chillingly been warned. The Allied Maritime Command, known as 'Marcom', could face a communications blackout if deep sea cables connecting the UK to Europe and the US are sabotaged. It comes as MPs were warned of the renewed threat posed by Russia, which is thought to be behind a string of alleged attacks against critical subsea infrastructure. Marcom is based at the Northwood military base in Hertfordshire and acts as the operational HQ for the international alliance's maritime forces. The secretive facility is one of several to rely on vital fibre-optic cables connecting the UK with the rest of Nato. However, a retired Royal Navy Commodore warned MPs and peers the critical seabed links were potentially vulnerable to a co-ordinated, multi-pronged attack. Asked if Marcom could be knocked out by such an onslaught, Cdre John Aitken told members of the joint committee on national security: 'Yes, they would be in a very difficult position. 'There was a known fragility around those cables. It is something that is being treated at the moment, I think. 'There are reversionary systems available, but they wouldn't be immediately available, and they would offer a reduced capability. 'But yes, if there were a coordinated attack against specific cables, then there would be a loss of capability – which would take hours to restore.' In the hearing on Monday, MPs were also warned Britain and Nato had forgotten how important its deep sea infrastructure was to modern society. Military chiefs and political leaders were accused of putting a greater focus on 'distant wars' in recent years, instead of shoring up the defences of the cables. The vulnerability of the underwater web of fibre optics has been thrown into question amid a slew of worrying sabotage attacks across European subsea cables and pipelines, believed to have been sponsored by Russia. In yet another warning, Niels Markussen, a captain in the Danish navy, claimed the alliance was 'behind the curve' in tackling such threats, reports the Telegraph. Capt Markussen, who is the director of Nato's Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure, said: 'I think what we haven't focused on, what we haven't realised, is how important this is and how important it has grown over time. We have simply forgotten that. 'So security has, in a long period of time where we have been fighting the distant wars, moved a long way from [where it is] in our head, so we haven't really thought [about] security in this area.' Britain's major tech and finance industries rely heavily on the underwater data wires. Should a hostile state like Russia, China or Iran, target them, the nation could face being crippled. It's believed about 500 cables around the world carry roughly 95 per cent of all international data. However, their remote locations and length some of them span, make it almost impossible to be monitored and defended, leaving them vulnerable to attack. It's an issue that has already plagued countries across mainland Europe. In 2022, a series of underwater explosions targeted the Nord Stream pipeline causing gas leaks on three out of four natural gas pipelines, rendering them inoperable. And since October 2023, at least 11 subsea cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged in suspected attacks. Further incidents in the North Sea have seen cables running on the seabed damaged. The combination has fuelled speculation over who could be responsible for the attacks - with defence sources pointing towards the Kremlin. It comes after more than 50 Russian ships were observed lurking over areas of high cable density. Among them include a Russian 'spy ship' which was dramatically headed off by a Royal Navy submarine in November in the Irish Sea close to UK undersea cables. Nuclear-powered sub HMS Astute rose from the depths and surfaced just yards away from the vessel, called Yantar. A handout picture released by the Britain's Ministry of Defence (MOD) in London on January 22, 2025 shows Royal Navy Royal Navy of RFA Proteus (R) patrolling near the Russian vessel Yantar (L), in November 2024 Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey (R) talks to Commanding Officer of RFA Proteus, Captain Martin Jones (L) as he sits at the dynamic positioning desk on the bridge during his visit to RFA Proteus on February 20, 2025 The purpose-built spy vessel was being used to gather intelligence and study this country's underwater communications infrastructure, UK Defence Secretary John Healey MPs earlier this year. It's thought Yantar is part of Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin's 'shadow fleet' of merchant vessels allegedly used on spying and sabotage missions. Details about the encounter between the navy submarine and the Yantar were revealed in January by Mr Healey. Describing the incident, the Defence Secretary also issued a stern warning to Russia, telling MPs: 'I also want President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you are doing, and we will not shy away from robust action.' MailOnline has approached Nato for comment. However, speaking to the Telegraph, a spokesman told the paper it would not comment on 'hypotheticals', insisting Nato remained 'flexible and agile' in its ability to lead the alliance's forces. A spokesman for the UK's Ministry of Defence added: 'We are committed to maintaining and enhancing the security and resilience of critical undersea infrastructure. 'Just as the Defence Secretary called out the activities of the Russian spy ship Yantar hovering over our undersea cables, let those who threaten the UK or our allies be in no doubt that we will defend our undersea infrastructure.
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Nato base in Britain ‘would be knocked out' by undersea cable attack
A major Nato base is at risk of being knocked out by a coordinated attack on the subsea cables serving Britain, a parliamentary committee has been warned. The Allied Maritime Command, known as Marcom, acts as the operational headquarters for all of the alliance's maritime forces and is based in Northwood, Hertfordshire. But the military facility is one of several that rely on fibre-optic cables connecting the UK with Europe and America via the seabed – leaving it potentially vulnerable if an adversary attacks multiple cables at once – a retired Navy commodore told a joint committee of MPs and peers. In a hearing on Monday, the parliamentarians were also warned that Britain and its Nato allies had forgotten how important undersea infrastructure was to modern society due to a greater focus on 'distant wars' in recent decades. It follows recent incidents of suspected Russian-sponsored sabotage against subsea cables carrying huge quantities of data between European countries. Asked whether a coordinated attack on the cables running into Britain risked knocking out Marcom, Commodore (Rtd) John Aitken told the joint committee on national security strategy: 'Yes, they would be in a very difficult position. There was a known fragility around those cables. It is something that is being treated at the moment, I think. 'There are reversionary systems available, but they wouldn't be immediately available, and they would offer a reduced capability. 'But yes, if there were a coordinated attack against specific cables, then there would be a loss of capability – which would take hours to restore.' Nato 'behind the curve' Danish navy captain Niels Markussen, the director of Nato's Maritime Centre for Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure, added that members of the alliance were 'behind the curve' on threats to subsea infrastructure. He said: 'I think what we haven't focused on, what we haven't realised, is how important this is and how important it has grown over time. We have simply forgotten that. 'So security has, in a long period of time where we have been fighting the distant wars, moved a long way from [where it is] in our head, so we haven't really thought [about] security in this area.' He added that dealing with an incident involving undersea cables was not always straightforward because it is often hard to distinguish between accidental damage and intentional sabotage. Many cables also have lengthy sections that pass through international waters, Mr Markussen said, creating a legal 'grey zone' that clouds how to respond. The revelations highlight the UK's dependence on cable infrastructure for military capabilities, as well as other important systems such as international financial markets, telecommunications and the internet. Roughly 500 cables around the world carry 95pc of all international data. But their remote locations make them difficult and costly to monitor, an issue that has come to the fore amid recent suspected incidents of sabotage. At least 11 subsea cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea since October 2023 and similar issues have been reported in the North Sea. The incidents have fuelled concerns about potential vulnerabilities, with more than 50 Russian ships observed in areas of high cable density. Experts have suggested in future that unmanned, autonomous underwater drones – such as the Navy's recently named Excalibur – could be deployed to protect undersea infrastructure in future. But Mr Aitken warned that doing so would be more complicated than it sounds, due to the difficulty of controlling and communicating securely with such vehicles at depth. 'I do get nervous about the focus currently on drones and people thinking they will be able to act in the same way as unmanned aerial vehicles did in Ukraine,' he said. 'The underwater domain is completely different to the air domain. Communication and control with an unmanned underwater vehicle are much more difficult than with an airborne vehicle or a land vehicle.' He added that potential missions could include sending a drone to check up on a cable before returning to a 'mothership' to report back. But Mr Aitken said: 'Once any vessel has dived, then communication at depth becomes extremely problematic.' A Nato spokesman declined to comment on 'hypotheticals' but said the alliance remained 'flexible and agile in its ability to command and control Allied Forces'. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We are committed to maintaining and enhancing the security and resilience of critical undersea infrastructure. 'Just as the Defence Secretary called out the activities of the Russian spy ship Yantar hovering over our undersea cables, let those who threaten the UK or our allies be in no doubt that we will defend our undersea infrastructure. 'This is one area that the Strategic Defence Review is looking at in order to enhance our homeland security.'
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Telecom Egypt's consolidated profits up 19.7% YoY in Q1 2025
Arab Finance: Telecom Egypt (ETEL) logged EGP 4.645 billion in consolidated net profits attributable to the holding company for the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, up by 19.67% year on year (YoY) from EGP 3.882 billion, as per the company's financial statement. Operating revenues amounted to EGP 24.797 billion from January through March, up from EGP 17.486 billion in the same period last year. As per the standalone financial statement, the telecom operator achieved standalone net profits after tax of EGP 2.675 billion in Q1 2025, versus EGP 4.385 million in Q1 2024. Telecom Egypt is the first integrated telecom operator in Egypt and is one of the region's largest operators of subsea cables. The Cairo-based company is listed on the EGX, and it operates in the sectors of communications, marine cables, infrastructure, internet services, and outsourcing services. It offers a range of fixed-line and retail telecommunications services, as well as wholesale telecommunications services. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
