Cinia investigating subsea cable break between Öland Island and Lithuania

A subsea cable operated by Cinia Oy, known as C-Lion1, suffered a break early Monday morning after 4 AM, approximately midway between southern Öland Island in Sweden and the east. According to Cinia, the cable’s separation was likely caused by external interference, such as an anchor or seabed trawling.

Additionally, a data cable linking Sweden and Lithuania was reported damaged on Sunday. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation announced on Wednesday that it has launched an inquiry into the matter, suspecting severe damage and serious interference with telecommunications. Finland and Sweden have also decided to establish a joint investigation task force to explore the causes of the damages.

Authorities have not disclosed specific suspects, but reports indicate interest in the Yi Peng 3 cargo ship, which has been under close surveillance by the Danish Navy for several days. The vessel is currently anchored in international waters between Denmark and Sweden, having been effectively immobile since Tuesday evening.

Military expert Jens Wenzel Kristoffersen from Denmark noted that halting the ship would require conclusive evidence linking it to the cable damage. The route of the Yi Peng 3 not only coincides with the C-Lion1 cable but also intersects with the other damaged cable between Sweden and Lithuania.

The C-Lion1 cable stretches 1,173 kilometers from Santahamina in Helsinki to Rostock in Germany and is unique among Finnish cables for its direct link to Central Europe. It boasts a capacity of 144 terabits per second, equivalent to providing internet service for 288,000 households at 500 megabits each. The cable, which has been in operation since 2016, has never antes malfunctioned and serves numerous customers.

In terms of impact, Finland’s international communication infrastructure is supported by several cables, and the Cybersecurity Centre at Traficom stated that the break is unlikely to significantly affect Finnish internet access. Repair efforts are set to commence soon, with a specialized vessel departing from France, and repairs typically take between five to 15 days.