Fourth Incident in a Year and a Half: Another Fiber-optic Cable Damaged in the Baltic Sea

On January 26, a fiber-optic cable owned by the Latvian State Radio and Television Center was damaged between Latvia and Sweden, reports NewsBox.  

The Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC) reported the damage to the fiber-optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden. The incident occurred on January 26 on the segment between Ventspils and Gotland. According to LVRTC representatives, the cable disruption largely does not affect users in Latvia.

There are grounds to believe that the cable is significantly damaged and that the damage was caused by external factors, commented LVRTC's Head of Corporate Communications, Vineta Sprugaine.

The Latvian National Armed Forces have identified a vessel that might be connected to the damage. A patrol ship has been dispatched for inspection.

This marks the fourth instance of cable damage in the Baltic Sea over the past year and a half. Similar incidents were previously reported in October 2023, as well as in October and November of 2024.