A significant disruption occurred in the Baltic Sea on January 26, 2025, when the underwater fiber optic cable of the Latvian State Radio and Television Center was found to have been damaged. The cable, located in the waters between Latvia and Sweden, serves as a critical connection for the transmission of data between countries in the region. The damage was discovered following interruptions in the data transmission service along the Ventspils-Gotland section of the cable.
The Latvian authorities suspect that the damage may be the result of external interference, although this has yet to be fully confirmed. The exact cause of the damage will only be determined once repairs begin, as the cable is situated more than 50 metres beneath the sea’s surface.
As part of the immediate response, Latvia’s naval forces dispatched a patrol vessel to investigate the situation. During the investigation, two ships were observed operating in the area where the cable was damaged. These vessels were located outside Latvian territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, heightening suspicions of possible external involvement.
This incident comes amid heightened concerns about the security of undersea cables, which are critical to global communications and economic stability. The Swedish Defence Minister recently confirmed that this event marks the third instance of damage to cables in the region, after the Yi Peng 3 incident and another power cable found damaged with anchor marks. This has sparked worries about the increasing vulnerability of vital infrastructure in the Baltic.
The damaged cable is an essential piece of infrastructure for the Latvian state, and its repair will be a priority for the Latvian government. The cause of the damage is still under investigation, and authorities are focusing on determining whether this incident was caused by sabotage or natural factors.
In response to the situation, Latvian officials have called for increased security and monitoring of critical undersea cables, to prevent any further disruptions or potential threats to national infrastructure.
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