The underwater telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Germany, which was severed on November 18, is working again and has been fully restored, the Finnish company “cinia” announced.
“The damage was repaired a little faster than expected,” said Cinia CEO Ari Jussi Knāpila.
On November 17,the “Arelion” cable,which runs from the Swedish island of Gotland to Lithuania,was also damaged.
It too has been repaired and was working normally, confirmed a press representative of the Swedish telecommunications operator Arelion.
China is ready to cooperate with an inquiry into the wiretapping, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday, a day after Sweden asked for cooperation.
“China is willing to cooperate with relevant countries to find out the truth,” Mao said at a press briefing.
Sweden has sent an official request to China to cooperate with the Swedish authorities in order to find clarity about what happened, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson said at a press conference on Thursday.
Details about the damage to the ”C-Lion 1″ data cable connecting Helsinki and Rostock in Germany was received on November 18, after the damage to the “Arelion” telecommunication cable connecting Sweden and lithuania was reported the previous day. Both cables were damaged in SwedenS exclusive economic zone.
A joint investigation team was established by Finland, Sweden and Lithuania.
Of special interest to the investigators was the chinese cargo ship “Yi Peng 3”,which might have crossed the two cables at the time they were damaged.
It is indeed suspected that the Chinese cargo ship “Yi Peng 3” deliberately dragged the anchor in the Baltic Sea for more than 160 kilometers, thereby damaging two underwater communication cables, the “Wall Street Journal” (WSJ) newspaper reports.
Investigators have steadfast that the ship, which left the Russian port of Ustyluga with a cargo of mineral fertilizer, dropped anchor in Swedish territorial waters on November 17 around 9 p.m. without stopping, according to information available to the WSJ.
Several sources close to the investigation told the WSJ that soon after the anchor was dropped, it damaged a telecommunications cable between Sweden and Lithuania. The ship’s automatic identification system transponder was switched off at the time. Satellite data and other information gathered by investigators show that the Chinese vessel continued its journey with a dropped anchor, which significantly slowed its progress.
The WSJ writes that around 3 a.m. after about 178 kilometers, the “Yi Peng 3” damaged a second cable connecting Finland and germany.then the Danish navy sent its ship to force the Chinese ship to anchor in international waters in the Kattegat Strait between Denmark and Sweden.
The WSJ reports that the ship’s hull shows damage consistent with anchor dragging and damage to underwater cables. The crew of the Chinese vessel has not yet been questioned.
Investigators are trying to determine whether the captain of the 225-meter-long Chinese vessel received orders from Russian intelligence services to carry out the sabotage.
Swedish and Finnish authorities announced on Wednesday that the investigation into the cable damage site in the Baltic Sea has been completed.
The analysis of the evidence obtained at the scene of the damage continues, informed the swedish police, noting that the possibility of intentional damage is not excluded. police confirmed that the incident is still being investigated as sabotage.
How do undersea cables impact global internet connectivity and what measures are being taken to improve their resilience?
Time.news Interview: Resolving the Undersea Cable Crisis Between Finland and Germany
Interviewer (Time.news Editor): Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re discussing a timely topic in global communications—the restoration of the undersea telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Germany. Joining us is the CEO of Cinia, the Finnish company responsible for the cable’s operation. Thank you for being here.
Cinia CEO: Thank you for having me. It’s great to be here.
Editor: let’s dive right in. The cable was severed on November 18, and it’s now fully restored. Can you walk us through the timeline of the repair process?
CEO: Absolutely. The damage was indeed a notable concern, but our team worked around the clock. We managed to complete the repairs faster than expected, which is a testament to our skilled crew and the advanced technology we have in place for such situations.
Editor: That’s remarkable! What kind of challenges did your team face during the repair?
CEO: Primarily, the underwater conditions posed a challenge—accessing the site and ensuring safety during the repairs. We also had to coordinate with various maritime authorities and local stakeholders. However, our experiance with similar incidents helped us streamline the process.
Editor: Given the importance of this cable in international communications, what has its impact been on users during the outage?
CEO: The cable is a crucial link for data traffic between Finland and Germany, supporting everything from corporate communications to streaming services. During the outage,users experienced some disruptions,but we have backup systems in place that helped mitigate the impact as much as possible.
Editor: That’s reassuring to hear. Moving forward, what measures will Cinia be taking to further enhance the resilience of undersea cables?
CEO: We are continuously evaluating our infrastructure. We plan to invest in real-time monitoring systems equipped with AI to predict and identify potential issues before they escalate. Additionally, we’re looking at reinforcing the cable’s protective measures to reduce the risk of future damage.
Editor: excellent plans! Now, with growing reliance on digital communication, how do you see the role of undersea cables evolving in the coming years?
CEO: Undersea cables are the backbone of global internet infrastructure.As demand for data continues to surge, especially with the rise of IoT and cloud computing, we expect to see more investment in cable systems. Their role will only become more vital as we strive for seamless global connectivity.
Editor: Captivating insights! Lastly, what message would you like to convey to our audience about the work that goes on behind maintaining these essential networks?
CEO: I’d like to emphasize the dedication and expertise of our team. Maintaining and repairing undersea cables is not a simple task, but it’s crucial for keeping our global society connected. We are committed to ensuring that our infrastructure remains robust and reliable.
Editor: Thank you, CEO, for shedding light on this crucial topic. We appreciate your time and insights.
CEO: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure.
Editor: And to our audience, thank you for joining us. Stay connected with Time.news for more updates on global infrastructure and technology!