US-EU declaration: How to better protect submarine internet cables
Western superpowers are working on excluding technology from China for submarine cables. The aim is to use "reliable and trustworthy" components.
To be better protected: The governments of the USA, the EU and other allied countries are forging a plan to increase the security of undersea cables.
The governments of the USA, the EU and other allied countries are forging a plan to increase the security of undersea cables. A key concern is to keep Chinese providers out of expansion projects in future.
This was reported by Politico and Mlex with reference to the draft "New York Joint Declaration", which is to be signed at the end of the month on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly from September 22 to 25. The EU states have already agreed in principle to sign the agreement.
Network operators should secure their supply chains
The signatory countries are to require network operators to take measures to secure their supply chains and data, writes Politico. If they become aware of unusual incidents involving maritime data lines, an increased exchange of information is planned.
According to reports, the draft states that the countries involved should only be allowed to accept "reliable and trustworthy cable components and services". Providers of submarine cable networks as well as operating and maintenance companies should have "transparent ownership, partnerships and corporate governance structures".
"Huawei clause" for 5G as a model
Chinese tech companies in particular are often accused of having opaque structures or links to state organizations.
The project is similar to the European approach to high-speed mobile networks via the so-called 5G toolbox, which focuses primarily on Huawei and ZTE as suppliers and is largely intended to keep them out of the loop. Under the new initiative, the participation of Chinese companies in submarine cable projects could also be restricted or prohibited.
Among the rapidly growing companies in the market are ZTT and HMN Tech from China. Until 2020, HMN was known as Huawei Marine Networks. The Hengtong Group then took over the company and changed its name.
Major competitors include the US provider SubCom, Alcatel Submarine Networks, which belongs to Nokia, as well as Prysmian from Italy, Nexans based in France and the Japanese group NEC. These and Western politicians are increasingly concerned that dependency on the booming Chinese equipment suppliers is becoming too great.
EU Commission has issued its own recommendation
Their control over the supply chain means that we are dependent on uncontrollable technology. There are also fears that the Chinese government could ask suppliers to interrupt the operation of the cables or give it access to the transmitted data. The information obtained could then be shared with Russia, for example.
Back in February, the EU Commission recommended that member states restrict the involvement of high-risk suppliers in maritime cable projects. The aim is to reduce "risks, vulnerabilities and dependencies" for data cables under the surface of the sea.
Videos by heise
This applies in particular to "high-risk suppliers" from China, for example. The EU states should also carry out regular stress tests for the cables.
It is estimated that 99 percent of data traffic runs under the oceans. The EU has classified the cables as highly critical infrastructure. The cables are considered vulnerable to data interception, although Western intelligence agencies such as the UK's GCHQ are also very active.
US officials report worrying activities
Other risks include sabotage, where cables are cut or otherwise damaged, and supply chain disruptions. US officials recently told CNN that they had observed worrying Russian activity in this area. A Chinese ship reportedly destroyed a submarine cable in the Baltic Sea last year.
(nen)
