Abstract:
Feasibility studies are underway for a proposed digital corridor project between the UK and Norway at a time when critical infrastructure faces growing foreign threats. Britain has expressed support for the laying of a new undersea data cable between the Shetland Islands and Norway, saying the project will help strengthen the country's resilience against growing threats to critical infrastructure from foreign powers.
Vodafone Three, the UK's largest mobile network operator, is leading a feasibility study to assess the possibility of building a UK-Norwegian digital corridor. The study will identify potential submarine routes between Shetland and Norway, as well as possible cable landing sites in western Norway.
Preliminary research commissioned by WPI Strategy, commissioned by Vodafone Business, found that the cable is expected to create significant economic value. By improving network connectivity, it will support businesses, public services, defence, data centers and critical national infrastructure.
This will be the first time in the past 25 years that a new undersea data cable has been built between the UK and Norway directly connecting the two countries. Currently, the two countries are further deepening their commercial and strategic relations.
According to data from the research organization TeleGeography, three such submarine cables between the UK and Norway are currently in operation, and another one is being planned.
The study also found that the new cables would help protect the UK economy if existing submarine lines suffered severe disruptions. This highlights the importance of strengthening national resilience by building a more geographically diverse infrastructure.
UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said: "Protecting our submarine cable network is vital to ensuring national security. Our adversaries are increasingly targeting critical national infrastructure, including the cables that carry data, support internet traffic and financial transactions."
He welcomed the feasibility study and pointed to the economic opportunities the new cable promises to bring. He added that the project is expected to "increase the UK's national resilience, prevent infrastructure disruption and keep everyone safe".
The company has just completed another feasibility study evaluating the construction of a new high-speed data cable between the Shetland Islands and mainland Scotland. Shetland experienced severe internet service disruptions last year.
Strengthening cooperation between the UK and Norway and other Nordic allies will become a core topic at the Atlantic Future Forum meeting in Oslo, Norway this week. The meeting will be held aboard the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
The undersea connection project comes as the British military is increasingly concerned about the risk that foreign powers may interfere with critical undersea infrastructure, including data cables and oil and gas pipelines.
The then British Defense Secretary John Healey disclosed in April this year that British and allied forces had tracked a secret operation involving three Russian submarines. The operation, which lasted a full month, was aimed at surveying critical undersea cables and pipelines in the North Atlantic.
Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the British Defense Staff, also said last week that protecting submarine cables was a priority. But he also pointed out that one cannot rely solely on one technology to achieve defense and enhance infrastructure resilience.
It is reported that the British Ministry of Defense is studying a range of detection technologies, including underwater hydrophone networks, buoys equipped with artificial intelligence technology and sailing boats, to more effectively collect intelligence on potential threats.
Knighton said: "First, we need to understand the condition of the infrastructure so that we can detect any changes. This requires establishing a multi-layered defense system." He pointed out that this includes using intelligence and satellite imagery to determine whether Russian submarines have left their bases.
“Next, we need the ability to listen and understand what activity these submarines or ships are doing...identify if there is any malicious activity...and ultimately have the ability to deter and defend against such activity.”
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