A US security firm has raised the alarm over Russian and Chinese threats to crucial subsea infrastructure, in the wake of a sequence of under-sea incidents in the Baltic Sea and off the coast of Taiwan that revealed increasing risk to international internet cables.
As tensions escalate between major countries, the digital backbone of the internet, laid deep under the ocean floor, faces new danger. Undersea cable sabotage is no longer an unlikely threat but a rising possibility, and events in recent times show just how vulnerable this infrastructure is.
Threats to the Global Cable Network
The research quotes nine distinct disruptions starting in 2024 in regions near Taiwan and the Baltic Sea. Though not all incidents can be attributed to subsea infrastructure sabotage, the study implies that state-sponsored attacks, particularly those from China and Russia, are increasing.
Two undersea cables linking Lithuania and Sweden were severed in November, believed to have been pulled by the anchor of a Chinese vessel. Shortly after, a Russian oil ship was boarded when it cut internet cables between Finland and Estonia, elevating fears that Russia suspected of sabotage via undersea cable disruptions
Taiwan has also suffered, when a China undersea cable cutter zigzagged back and forth across cables off the Penghu Islands. Another Taiwan-US connection was removed last month by a Chinese cargo ship.
Repetitive incidents formed a growing threat that leaves one wondering about the strength of the subsea cable network, that functions behind the scenes to transport world’s internet traffic.
99% of cross-border data transfer is carried out by submarine cables. Although the majority of damage is caused by accidents like anchor dragging or natural calamities, more focused attacks likely would require state facilitation and access, likely before other widespread conflict outbreaks.
Experts refer to the act of demolishing such cables as a low-tech approach that can cause monumental disruption without an immediate sign of foul play. Because such cables are extremely sensitive, they are a way of applying pressure on competitors while making the actions deniable, particularly in contested regions with intense maritime infrastructure traffic.
Meanwhile, governments and industry bodies are calling for more investment in subsea cable protection. The UK’s latest strategic defense review stimulated the Royal Navy to play a leading role in the protection of pipelines and subsea infrastructure, including communication cables.
For the meantime, installation crews continue submarine cable installation efforts around the world, reinforcing routes with more advanced materials and technology. However, experts estimate that the real challenge lies in securing long-term subsea internet cables, especially in deep-sea zones where monitoring is limited.
The report also pointed out that countries like Malta, Cyprus, and Ireland are more at risk due to fewer connectivity options. For them, secure subsea cable protection systems might be the only guard against extended outages. As a result, to eliminate future outages, Recorded Future recommends stress tests and improved security for critical subsea infrastructure before it’s too late.
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