Why Russian submarines roam Internet cables in the Atlantic Ocean

At least since relations between the West and Russia began to deteriorate in 2014, when Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula and was accused of intervening in the separatist conflict in Ukraine, reports of submarines located at strategic points of the connection system have multiplied and aroused the concern of members of the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO) who, in response, reactivated a naval command used during the Cold War era.

In particular, we are talking about the Russian submarines Mir-1, As remembers the Australian channel New, which have been detected at different strategic points where Cutting the cables could lead to a disconnection between Europe and the United States, or even a general Internet drop.

These devices they are transported by larger submarines and deployed to the bottom of the sea.

Some of the first reports were published in 2015 in the newspaper The New York Times and in the portal Huffington Post, when we talked about Increasing interest from Russian Navy submarines and spy ships in some 400 underwater internet cables around the world and through what transactions are made for $ 10 billion a day.

"The tactical reasons are clear. In case of escalating tensions, access to the submarine cable system represents an important source of information, the possibility of creating huge problems in the economy of the world. enemy and a symbolic swelling of the Russian navy."Admiral American retired Jim Stavidris said at the time. Huffington Post.

While the US Navy spokesman, William Marks, told the New York Times What?It would be worrisome to hear that all countries are manipulating communication cables", although refused to offer more details on" clbadified operations ".

In December 2017, an officer of the United Kingdom's armed forces warned that an attack on the system "would have an immediate and potentially catastrophic impact" on the global economy, reported New.

At the end of that year, the Washington Post also reported on Russian activities near Internet cables, Recalling that the Kremlin's underwater activity in general has recently reached its highest level since the Cold War.

"We are seeing Russian submarine activity near submarine cables to a level never seen before. Russia is becoming increasingly interested in the underwater infrastructure of NATO and its allies, "said Admiral Andrew Lennon, commander of the NATO Navy.

In 2018, reports of Russian submarine activity they have multiplied and generated greater concern between European countries and NATO.

He also did it in the United States, though, as he reports The national inquiry, the country has not denounced this phenomenon with momentum since Washington was the first to roam submarine cables during the Cold War. At that time, some of his units, such as the USS Halibut, were specialized in accessing these connection systems to get information.

This is the danger warned by the Western powers that in 2018 Washington has approved the construction of a second ship specializing in the repair and laying of cables, and included a mini submarine builder in its sanctions against Russia, pointed out the National enquirer.

According to this same publication, Russian submarines respond Marine Research Directorate (GUGI), and their capabilities are not known precisely.

What is the possible damage?

Cutting the cables is a relatively simple task, but their access to information research requires more sophisticated equipment, especially to prevent seawater from reaching the interior.

But even if a country was ready to end the system and crash the Internet, It would not be easy either. The destruction of cables, whether due to climatic problems, fish stock or human error, is common: it is thought that only 50 years of the year are spent in the Atlantic.

Even in 2007, a group of fishermen accidentally cut off the main cable that connects Vietnam, leaving the country with very limited access to the internet for months.

"The international community must not underestimate the possibility that China will damage or corrupt the cables and other infrastructure that connect Taiwan to the world."In January, badyst Tzeng Yi-suo of the National Research Institute of Defense and Security, a Taipei-based state think-tank, said.

Due to frequent damage, the system operates with a level of high redundancy, that is to say that at any time the capacity and the quantity of the cables are higher than what is necessary, so that the traffic information can be quickly redirected in case of problem.

The effort to cut it off completely should therefore be enormous, although There are strategic points of greater concentration where it would be more practical.

More plausible, he holds The national inquiry, swould be the attack of Russia on specific networks, like the DoDIN cable used by the US Department of Defense or SOSUS, which NATO uses to monitor the movements of submarines.

The tensions are not limited to the depths of the sea. In fact, reconnaissance flights of Russian fighters and bombers at the borders between Russia and NATO are also rising, as well as the activity of the Russian surface fleet.

A vital network for communications around the world, but not the only one

The first submarine communication cables were laid in 1851 and since then The global network has steadily grown in size and technology, connecting the entire planet almost instantly.

There are currently about 420 cables covering a total distance of 1,100,000 kilometers, according to the specialized website. TéléGéographie. Live as a cheaper alternative to the satellite communication system that would remain in place in case of collapse of the first.