Internet in danger: a world failure due to Russian sabotage?

Several major operators including Orange, Vodafone or Telefonica, have alerted the British, European and NATO authorities by mail. Companies alert to increase sabotage acts that threaten essential services.

The threat of a global internet breakdown

“The consequences of damage caused to submarine cables far exceed European borders, which can potentially affect global internet and electric infrastructure, international communications, financial transactions and critical services on a planetary scale”they wrote in their open letter.

The warning is not by chance. Several incidents affecting fiber optic cables placed in the seabed have been reported. They are used to transport huge volumes of data, vocal communications and internet traffic between countries. More than 500 cables route approximately 95 % of international data. Except that their distant location makes them difficult and expensive to monitor.

Since October 2023, at least 11 submarine cables have been damaged in the Baltic Sea and breakdowns have been reported in the North Sea. The incidents feed the fears of sabotage by hostile actors, especially because more than fifty Russian ships in areas with high density of cables in the Baltic Sea have been spotted. The United Kingdom monitors the Russian spy ship Yantar which is suspected of mapping critical submarine infrastructures. Other concerns take place following possible Chinese sabotage around Taiwan.

John Healey, British Minister of Defense, described these breakdowns in January “Additional example of the growing Russian aggression”. He added: “I also want President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you are doing, and we will not hesitate to take firm measures to protect our country.”

An “absolute priority” for operators

MPs of the Mixed Commission on the National Security Strategy launched an investigation into the ability of Great Britain to defend its underwater infrastructure against attacks. Matt Western, president of this commission, said: “While the geopolitical environment is deteriorating, foreign states are looking for asymmetrical means to endanger us. Our Internet cable network seems to be an increasingly vulnerable soft belly.”

In their letter, operators believe that network safety is a “Absolute priority” While specifying that the diversity of infrastructure makes it possible to redirect traffic in the event of an incident. Countries also have the capacity to intervene quickly to repair cables.

However, operators warn that the resurgence of malicious attacks by hostile players requires a strengthening of government security measures. Companies ask that underwater cables be classified as a critical infrastructure to guarantee a high level of protection of investment in terms of security.

The operators also ask the European Union, the United Kingdom and NATO to collaborate to share information with joint surveillance initiatives. “Harmonized approaches must be developed for the ecosystem of submarine cables, aimed at aligning safety objectives with operational feasibility as well as viable economic model, based on proportionate practices and based on risks, developed in close consultation with industry”they wrote.