A communication cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden through the Baltic Sea was cut on Sunday morning. Telia, a Lithuanian telecommunications company, reported the incident.
The disruption occurred at around 10:00 AM. Automated systems detected the loss of contact immediately. Investigations confirmed the cable was damaged.
The damaged cable reduced Lithuania’s internet bandwidth by one-third. Telia rerouted connections to restore service for users.
The company noted that the cable is old and has experienced issues before. Most previous damages were caused by ships dropping anchors improperly near shallow areas.
Telia stated there is no evidence of sabotage in this case, according to Digi24.
Earlier this week, a similar incident occurred with a submarine cable connecting Finland and Germany.
The Finnish company Cinia reported the break on Monday, November 18. The cable, known as C-Lion1, stretches 1,172 kilometers between Helsinki and Rostock.
Cause is Under Investigation
Cinia confirmed that all fiber connections through the cable were disrupted. Initial assessments suggest the cable was “cut.”
Cinia officials believe such damage is unlikely to happen in Baltic waters without external interference. However, the exact cause remains under investigation.
These two incidents have raised concerns about the security of submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. These cables are crucial for international communication.
Damage to them can disrupt internet services and create vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.
Submarine cables in the region have faced issues in the past due to maritime activity. Ships dropping anchors improperly or dragging equipment have caused similar breaks.
However, back-to-back incidents are unusual and have prompted further scrutiny.
Authorities in both Lithuania and Finland are continuing to investigate. While no evidence of foul play has been confirmed, experts are concerned about the potential risks to these essential communication lines.ano
