Submarine Cables Under Threat: New Zealand’s Vulnerabilities
In November, two submarine telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea suffered damage. Officials suspect, though haven’t confirmed, that a Chinese ship deliberately dragged its anchor over the BCS East-West Interlink and C-Lion1 fibre-optic cables.
On Christmas Day, another cable linking Estonia and Finland was damaged. Finnish grid operators suggest sabotage can’t be ruled out. This ship was carrying Russian oil but sailed under the Cook Islands flag, raising concerns closer to home.
Recently, Swedish authorities seized a cargo ship suspected of sabotaging a cable between Sweden and Latvia in the Baltic Sea.
Earlier this month, a Chinese ship cut a cable connecting Taiwan to the US.
While there is no clear evidence of a coordinated campaign, these incidents highlight the potential risks to global communications infrastructure.
Entering the Grey Zone
These events might signal a shift into what experts refer to as “grey zone” or “hybrid” warfare, where actions blur the lines between traditional military activities and broader geopolitical tensions. Western nations are still grappling with appropriate responses.
Finland is preparing to file criminal charges for their incident, while Baltic nations are increasing patrols by their navies and coastguards.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
NATO appears to be addressing these threats by developing a fleet of submarine drones to monitor cables, a move aimed at enhancing security in the region.
Legally Complex
The legal challenges in addressing these incidents are significant. International maritime laws only give countries authority over the seabed within 22 kilometers of their shores. Beyond that, ships have freedom of passage, making it hard to prevent or penalize potentially malicious actions.
The Convention for the Protection of Submarine Telegraph Cables, established in 1884, prohibits cable damage, but its application and enforcement mechanisms are outdated, especially in international waters.
New Zealand’s Submarine Cable Network
New Zealand relies on three cable networks and five physical cables to stay connected globally. Domestic links such as the Aqualink cable also play critical roles. More cables are on the horizon, including the Tasman Ring Network, a joint initiative by Chorus and Datagrid, set to expand connections in both New Zealand and Australia.
Cable Resilience
Most discussions focus on natural threats like seismic events or volcanic activity. However, debates about resilience also encompass the possibility of deliberate sabotage.
The Southern Cross network, known for its resilience, employs a figure-eight design to maintain functionality even if part of the network is severed. This approach has weathered at least two cable cuts without service disruption.
Less attention has been paid to “accidental damage that seems to be happening frequently,” raising concerns about potential vulnerabilities.
Significant Redundancy
New Zealand’s current cable infrastructure offers redundancy sufficient to maintain connectivity if one link is severed. If two or three cables are affected, service may experience slight delays, but users can still access the internet.
High-bandwidth and latency-sensitive applications like those operated by hyper-scale cloud companies can adjust their usage to mitigate these impacts.
However, complete failure could severely disrupt services, with limited satellite alternatives due to their inherent latency and limited bandwidth.
One NZ Offers Satellite Coverage for New Devices
One New Zealand has expanded its satellite services, now available on several Samsung Galaxy models, including the S25 series and S23 Ultra. The company plans to support additional devices soon.
Gartner on AI Demands on Telecommunications Networks
Research firm Gartner warns that the increasing adoption of AI and generative AI will put new demands on telecom networks. Their report, “Predicts 2025: AI and Generative AI Technologies in CSPs (cloud service providers),” suggests that optical transport architectures will need significant redesign to handle higher bandwidth and reduced latency.
By 2027, half of CSPs are expected to upgrade their networks to accommodate these requirements, transitioning to denser wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems and higher-capacity per-wavelength systems to utilize existing fibre infrastructure.
Kordia Appoints Permanent CEO
Kordia, a leading communications company, has confirmed Neil Livingston as its permanent CEO, taking over from the interim role he has held since April 2024.
Worldwide Broadband Equipment Market to Peak in 2028
A forecast by Dell’Oro Group indicates that the worldwide broadband access equipment market will peak at US$19.2 billion in 2028. The growth is driven by the expansion of DOCSIS 4.0 and rural broadband initiatives in many countries.
WiFi 7 routers and XGS-PON technology are also expected to play crucial roles in this growth. XGS-PON, a next-generation fibre broadband solution, supports symmetrical 10 Gbps upload and download speeds. This technology powers Hyperfibre services offered in New Zealand by companies like Chorus, Enable, Tuatahi First Fibre, and Northpower.
In Other News…
About 20,000 Sky TV Viewers Have Experienced Disruption—Help on the Way
Sky TV’s satellite service has faced issues, affecting between 20,000 and 25,000 customers. Tom Pullar-Strecker of The Post provides details on the situation and updates on how the company is addressing the disruptions.
As many as 5% of Sky TV satellite customers have experienced intermittent viewing interruptions, according to the pay-TV firm.
Nona Pelletier from RNZ discusses the looming cybersecurity threat known as Y2Q, providing essential information for New Zealanders to stay informed and prepare.
Datagate Innovation Reports Strong Demand for Its MSP Telco Billing System
Reseller News’ Rob O’Neill highlights Datagate Innovation’s robust sales of its telco billing solution for managed service providers (MSPs), despite economic uncertainties.
“Despite turbulence in the international economy, Auckland company Datagate is reporting strong demand for its telecom billing solution from MSPs, with enquiries at an all-time high,” writes O’Neill.
The Download Weekly is Supported by Chorus New Zealand.
Are New Zealand’s Submarine Links Safe?
Freelance journalist.
Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.
His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast.
Bennett’s The Download Weekly newsletter is published every Friday. You can sign up for it here.
If you want to support his work, you can make a donation to his PressPatron account.
Your thoughts on this issue matter! Feel free to comment below and share your views. Don’t forget to subscribe for more insightful articles like this one. And, if you find this valuable, spread the word on social media to keep the conversation going.