- New undersea routes promise independence but create new risks in unstable regions.
- The Black Sea has become the next frontier in Europe's struggle for digital sovereignty
- Fears of cable sabotage have turned telecommunications infrastructure into a national security issue.
A new submarine cable project would link Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine, bypassing Russian waters.
The new Cardes route, expected to begin construction in 2027, will create a new digital corridor between Europe and Asia that avoids the political and physical vulnerabilities of existing systems.
Currently, the submarine cable map shows only one cable crossing the Black Sea between Georgia and Bulgaria, with others connecting nearby states but still touching routes under Moscow's influence.
Safety under the waves
Thus, the Kardesa line could change regional Internet routing, providing more direct and independent connections, while the security of global data transmission remains in question.
Recent incidents in the Red Sea have shown how fragile undersea networks can be after several cables were damaged and global traffic between Europe, Asia and the Middle East slowed.
The idea of Cardesa and other projects such as Meta's planned 50,000 kilometer global cableis to ensure that if one path fails or is sabotaged, the other can maintain service.
Some call this “route diversity,” and it is quickly becoming a strategic priority rather than a technical one.
Countries are now investing in systems that can detect or deter sabotage. The German company AP Sensing has developed sonar-based monitoring tools to detect interference.
To increase security, NATO has begun using drones to patrol sea routes along which vital infrastructure is located.
Despite this, the claim that bypassing Russia automatically makes the Internet safer is met with skepticism.
Routing changes may bypass one geopolitical hotspot but expose others. Ukraine, through which part of the Kardes cable will pass, remains an area of uncertainty.
A plan to route cable only through internationally recognized safe zones may limit the risk, but will not completely eliminate it.
Likewise, avoiding Russia does not protect against cyber intrusions or remote interference in signaling infrastructure.
As is the case with digital privacy tools such as best VPN or secure routerPhysical security measures are only part of a complete solution.
If this new connection is successful, it could mark a shift in how Europe and its partners view online independence.
By using Tom's Equipment
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