Submarine Cable Map / TeleGeography
They are responsible not only over the internet, but also for transporting information, including national security. One of them has 45,000 kilometers and connects 33 countries. If they were cut, there were no hospitals, economy or… network.
Submarine cables are “a critical infrastructure fundamental to the functioning of the world.” Thus says Manuel Cabugro, administrator of Anacom (National Authority of Communications), to.
They have “huge potential, not only in terms of defense, but from other perspectives too,” he explains. These cables are, namely, responsible for 97% of the internet in Portugal.
They are responsible for the transmission of information, which can be the most trivial or extremely important issues, such as national security. And there are new cables that even identify movements from the seabed, which can detects seismos and tsunamis, or enemy ships.
In the world, fiber optic submarines, with thicknesses of simple hoses, but transmit essential information between countries. 20 of them are tied in Portugal: In Carcavelos, Seixal and Sesimbra.
The latest carry hundreds of data therapites per second.
The largest cable that passes here is 2Africa, which has 45 thousand kilometers long and connects Portugal to 33 countries (Each country redistributes the signal to others). This is how Portugal connects with the world, receives information and network, essential for the normal functioning of basic services, such as hospitals or commerce.
“We have a historic maritime disability And air to control everything that goes on, ”says Sandra Fernandes, an international relations specialist, which, he adds, is worrying, since Portugal“ is the EU country with the largest area in exclusive economic zone ”.
In recent months, in northern Europe, sabotage has occurred to submarine cables. According to the Lieutenant Colonel of the João Alvelos Security Observatory, the impacts of the cutting of these cables were poorly significant since the network was brought by other unable cables (the so-called redundancy networks).
However, in a large -scale attack scenario, ie to several cables, the impacts would be “terrible”.
Nonnish ships “boycott the cables with anchorsoften not visible, taking a trip on the cable route until there is a cable that intertwines in this anchor. It happened now in Finland. That’s why it’s important to monitor all movements, ”says the expert.
“Breaking such a cable is Stop the exchange of information for six monthswith a lot of luck. It’s six months to a year. And I have doubts that there is a submarine capable of repairing them, ”he explains.
“When there is a disruption of this system will affect everyone,” confirms resident of the Ecosystems and Digital Infrastructure Observatory, Luís Bernardino. This “obliges us to invest in security“He adds.
