Riga, Latvia, october 27, 2024 – A critical undersea telecommunications cable in the Baltic Sea was damaged Friday, prompting an inquiry by Latvian authorities and raising fresh concerns about the security of vital infrastructure in the region.
Baltic Cable Cut: Investigation Launched, Repairs Expected Within Weeks
The incident impacts connectivity but Latvian users have not experienced disruption as traffic was rerouted.
- Swedish telecoms giant Arelion confirmed damage to the BCS East cable connecting Latvia and Lithuania.
- The damage appears to have been caused by a ship,with Latvian armed forces analyzing the vesselS movements.
- Repairs are expected to be completed within the next week or two, according to Arelion.
- The Baltic Sea has seen a rise in submarine cable incidents, fueling debate over potential sabotage.
Arelion confirmed the damage to its BCS East submarine cable, which runs between Latvia and Lithuania, this weekend. The incident occurred a few kilometers from the cable’s landing station in Liepāja, Latvia. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.
What’s the current status of the damaged cable? Latvian users have not been impacted by the incident, as network traffic was successfully redirected to option routes.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina addressed the situation in a press conference Sunday, stating, “I am in contact with the crisis management center and the responsible authorities. The police have started an investigation, and the clarification of the circumstances continues.”
According to reports, analysis by the Latvian armed forces indicates the ship involved initially sailed over an inactive cable before altering course and impacting the BCS East cable. Arvis Zile, head of the crisis management centre, noted, “We cannot speculate on the reasons yet. After conducting analysis and digital measurements, the company does not rule out any version at this time.”
Arelion spokesperson Martin Sjogren indicated repairs to the cable are anticipated to be completed “within the next week or two.”
The Baltic Sea has experienced a growing number of submarine cable incidents in recent years, including damage to Arelion’s own BCS East-West Interlink cable, connecting Lithuania to the Swedish island of Gotland, in November 2024. This has heightened concerns about the vulnerability of these critical pieces of infrastructure, particularly given the geopolitical tensions between the Baltic states and Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While the security of submarine cables is receiving increased attention from operators and policymakers, deliberate sabotage is rarely confirmed, with accidental damage remaining a common cause of incidents worldwide.
