NATO, others move to halt undersea cable internet service disruption

Admin I Friday, August 09, 2024

 

BRUSSELS – The North  Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO funded project is working to make the internet services less vulnerable to disruption by rerouting the flow of information into space.

This will prevent internet disruptions  that usually occur when undersea cables are attacked or accidentally severed.

The project lunched  estimated to cost  $2.5 million was launched on 31 July 2024 and was partially funded by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security programme (SPS).

“Through this SPS-supported project, NATO is bringing together Allies, prominent institutions including the Cornell, John Hopkins Bifröst, and Swedish Defence Universities and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology as well as telecommunications companies to address the urgent need for a more resilient internet infrastructure worldwide,” said Dr Eyup Turmus, SPS Advisor and Programme Manager at NATO.

The project aims to produce a working prototype within two years, with a demonstration planned at the Blekinge Institute of Technology.

The Hybrid Space/Submarine Architecture Ensuring Infosec of Telecommunications (HEIST) consortium leading the project will develop a hybrid network combining submarine cables and satellite communications to ensure a continuous flow of data.

It will bring together existing technologies, address legal and jurisdictional challenges, and foster international collaboration between NATO Allies and partners, including the US, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland.