Threat to submarine cables?

Submarine cables - French media has reported on the threat which hangs over submarine cables which connect the continents to the Internet. The armed forces have reportedly envisaged the nightmare scenario of a “cut which would cause a blackout”.  After 7 days of war between Russia and Ukraine the threats are intensifying and the country's allies of Kiev are on alert. In addition to a nuclear threat, there is that of an Internet "black out" with the cutting of transatlantic submarine cables. The threat is not taken lightly. In addition to disconnecting computers, smartphones, the servers through which financial and economic data pass would simply be cut off. In a recent interview Jean-Luc Vuillemin, director of international networks at Orange, recalled that in the event of a power cut, there would simply be no more European internet as 99% of the global network passes through these cables.

Two weeks ago, it was Florence Parly France’s minister of the armed forces, who said that "the seabed is a new terrain of balance of power that we must master it in order to be ready to act, to defend ourselves and if necessary, to take the initiative or at least to retaliate”. This scenario has also been taken very seriously by European defense officials for several years, especially since Russian military ships are increasingly criss-crossing the Irish coasts through which these information highways pass. In August 2021, off the coast of Ireland, the Yantar, an "oceanographic" vessel which has an AS-37 type mini-submarine [Project 16810], was able to dive up to 6,000 meters deep. This Russian Navy spy ship followed the route of the Celtic Norse and AEConnect-1 undersea telecommunications cables that connect Ireland to the United States. It is through them that 97% of global communications and financial transactions pass. In addition, in 2014, cable cuts attributed to Russia were committed during the annexation of Crimea. Ukraine takes the threat seriously.

Last local news

Evening Update Friday 26 July 2024

TGV services across much of France are gradually improving after several arson attacks affected the network in the early hours of this morning.... Evening Update Friday 26 July 2024 Read More

26/07/2024

French and Riviera News Friday 26th July 2024

Paris is getting ready to shut down it’s city centre and its airspace as well as mobilise 45,000 police and several army units in what has been billed... French and Riviera News Friday 26th July 2024 Read More

26/07/2024

Evening Update Thursday 25th July 2024

Lucie Castets, the left-wing candidate for Prime Minister, reiterated her desire to lead the government during a media appearance on July 25. A poll s... Evening Update Thursday 25th July 2024 Read More

25/07/2024

French and Riviera News Thursday 25th July 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to welcome world leaders to the Olympic games opening ceremony tomorrow night and has been visiting key ... French and Riviera News Thursday 25th July 2024 Read More

25/07/2024

Evening Update Wednesday 24th July 2024

France will host the 2030 Winter Olympics in the Alpes, conditional on state and regional financial guarantees. President Macron confirmed his full su... Evening Update Wednesday 24th July 2024 Read More

24/07/2024