New sabotage: Unknown individuals damage internet cables across France
In nine departments across France, unknown individuals have cut fiber-optic cables that provide broadband services throughout the country. Paris was not affected, according to Bloomberg.
The French telecommunications company SFR reported that its network was disrupted between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM Paris time on July 29. The provider is using alternative routes to serve customers, although traffic redirection may lead to reduced speeds.
Other operators, including Iliad SA’s Free and Netalis, also reported damage to their networks and are working on traffic rerouting.
A representative from the Paris prosecutor's office stated that law enforcement is assessing the situation with regional colleagues.
Network vulnerability and the impressive scale of the sabotage
Unlike previous attacks on infrastructure, the scale and coordination of this incident caught authorities off guard, the agency reports. “We advocate for France reinforcing criminal sanctions for vandalism on telecom infrastructure, which should be put at the same level as vandalism on energy infrastructure,” said Romain Bonenfant, head of the French Telecom Federation industry group.
France has an extensive network of intercity internet cables, with SFR alone accounting for 120,000 kilometers.
The cables typically run through underground ducts, accessible only via manholes. In some cases, these cables are laid along railway lines and rivers.
“If you know where these strategic cables are, accessing and cutting them is not very complicated with the right tools,” said Arthur Laudrain, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Cyber Diplomacy at King’s College London. “It is difficult to secure these cables effectively, given the number of physical access points used for maintenance,” he said.
O July 26, the opening day of the Olympics, France experienced a major rail disruption when unknown individuals damaged three high-speed lines. Authorities suggested the possibility of sabotage.
The French Ministry of the Interior leans towards the idea that left-wing extremists might be behind the sabotage of the SNCF rail network.
