Finnish authorities confirm cable cuts were accidental damage

On December 2, 2024, in Finland, two land-based optic fiber cables connecting Finland to Sweden were severed, resulting in significant service disruptions affecting approximately 6,000 households and around 100 companies. The Nordic digital infrastructure provider, GlobalConnect, reported the major outage following the cable cuts, which occurred amidst rising concerns over incidents involving telecommunications infrastructure in the region. Finnish authorities proceeded with an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding these cuts. While initial responses from officials suggested the possibility of sabotage, subsequent inquiries revealed that the damage was likely due to ordinary incidents connected to construction work. Finland's Transport and Communications Agency, known as Traficom, noted that the cables had been repaired, and service was largely restored. The situation drew international attention, especially following recent incidents involving telecom cables in the Baltic Sea that raised suspicions of external interference. Investigators had established a collaborative team from Finnish, Swedish, and Lithuanian authorities to thoroughly assess the recent damage and potential links to a Chinese cargo vessel believed to have been in the vicinity at the time. These incidents have reignited discussions on the vulnerabilities of digital infrastructure amidst escalating geopolitical tensions in the region. As of today, Finnish authorities emphasize the absence of evidence indicating any criminal activity concerning the cable cuts.