Advanced technologies are being explored to monitor subsea fibre cables for potential sabotage, enabling operators to identify threats and prevent damage to critical assets.
The Importance of Monitoring Subsea Fibre Cables
Subsea fibre cables are critical to the operation of the internet, carrying huge volumes of data between countries. The recent reports of damaged telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea have raised alarm and prompted a response from NATO and the EU. Companies are now exploring ways to monitor these cables for potential sabotage using advanced technologies.
Subsea fibre cables are high-speed, underwater communication cables that transmit data across vast distances.
These cables consist of multiple fibre optic strands encased in a protective tube, which is buried on the seafloor.
They play a crucial role in global connectivity, facilitating international internet traffic, financial transactions, and telecommunications.
With over 380 subsea cables in operation, they cover approximately 99% of the world's population, making them an essential component of modern communication infrastructure.
Fibre optic signals can be used to detect disturbances in subsea cables, allowing companies to identify potential threats. When pulses of light travel along a fibre optic strand, tiny reflections sometimes bounce back along that line. These reflections are affected by factors such as temperature, vibrations, or physical disturbance to the cable itself.
AP Sensing, a German technology company, has developed a system that can measure this disturbance and detect the presence of underwater drones or hostile vessels dragging their anchors along the seabed. The company’s software can pick out and identify the presence of these vehicles, even if they are not directly adjacent to the cable.
AP Sensing is a leading manufacturer of high-accuracy gas sensors for industrial and commercial applications.
Their sensors detect gases such as methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide with precision and reliability.
AP Sensing's products are used in various industries, including oil and gas, mining, and waste management, to monitor and control gas emissions.
Their sensors are designed to meet international safety standards and regulations.
Real-World Testing and Deployment
AP Sensing tested its system in real-world conditions last year, deploying ships, drones, and divers with sea scooters to find out how accurately their software could detect disturbances. The team also tested whether their cable could ‘hear’ a vessel plunging its anchor into the water.
The results showed that the fibre optic sensing technology can pick up vibrations hundreds of metres away, but not several kilometres away. AP Sensing confirms that its technology is currently deployed on some cable installations in the North Sea.
Limitations and Potential Applications
While fibre optic sensing technology has limitations, it can still be a valuable tool for monitoring subsea cables. ‘Cables installed solely for the purpose of monitoring marine activity could be especially useful,’ says Optics11, a Dutch firm. These listening cables could provide operators with an overview of vessel traffic in the area and potentially advance notice of a ship heading towards a critical asset.
Optics is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter.
It encompasses various aspects, such as geometric optics, physical optics, and optical communication systems.
The study of optics has led to significant advancements in fields like laser technology, fiber optic cables, and medical imaging techniques.
Optics also plays a crucial role in our daily lives, from eyeglasses and contact lenses to telescopes and microscopes.
Hexatronic, a Swedish cable company, notes that acoustic sensing is an emerging technology that will become more common in the future. However, there is relatively little one can do to protect a cable from sabotage in terms of physical strengthening.
The Need for Early Warning Systems
“The visible military response to cable breakages in the Baltic Sea is welcome,” says Thorsten Benner, co-founder and director of the Global Public Policy Institute. While fibre optic sensing technology might be useful, its efficacy rests on how quickly coastguard or military patrols could receive alerts about potential sabotage and react.
Conclusion
Subsea fibre cables are critical to global communication networks, and companies are exploring ways to monitor them for potential threats. Fibre optic signals can detect disturbances in the cables, allowing operators to identify potential sabotage. While there are limitations to this technology, it has the potential to provide early warning systems that could prevent damage to these critical assets.
