Finland deploys new system to detect threats to undersea cables — distributed acoustic sensors measure vibrations from the seabed and informs the authorities and operators of suspicious activities

Elisa, a Finnish telecom company, has implemented a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system on its undersea cables to detect vibrations from the seabed, alerting authorities and operators of potential threats. The system has been successfully tested and is being further developed to automatically notify the Finnish Border Guard and Navy of any irregular activities. Undersea cables, crucial for global internet traffic, are vulnerable to deliberate damage, prompting countries like Finland to invest in defense technologies. The DAS system in Finland resembles one developed by a German tech company, offering a cost-effective solution that can be retrofitted onto existing cables. Collaboration with various Finnish organizations has been crucial in deploying this detection system.