Europe Deepens Focus on Undersea Cable Security

BEREC’s cable review and new investments steer Europe toward stronger subsea connectivity

13 Nov 2025

Europe’s underwater cable networks are suddenly in the spotlight. Once treated as background infrastructure, these telecom and power links are now seen as essential arteries for digital traffic and the clean energy transition. As offshore wind expands and data demand climbs, policymakers and industry leaders are rethinking how to protect what lies beneath the surface.

The latest momentum comes from a draft report by BEREC, Europe’s telecom regulators’ body, released for public consultation on June 5, 2025. The document flags vulnerabilities in cross-border communications and encourages stronger coordination, better oversight and more resilient routes. While it does not prescribe upgrades for the energy grid, it has widened the conversation around long-term risk management across telecom and power systems.

Industry players are already shifting their strategies. Nexans secured €250 million from the European Investment Bank to support research, development and new industrial capacity tied to subsea and wind power links. NKT has introduced a new trencher designed to bury cables deeper and improve their protection. Along with Prysmian, these companies remain central to major European transmission and connectivity projects aimed at expanding capacity and modernizing infrastructure.

Analysts say this activity reflects a growing recognition that seabed networks are strategic assets supporting Europe’s digital competitiveness and clean energy goals. Recent EU initiatives promote redundant routes, more landing points and tighter coordination on maintenance, all meant to reduce the impact of a single cable failure.

Challenges still cloud the horizon. High-voltage cable production remains constrained, and reliance on a small number of manufacturing centers raises concerns about meeting rising demand. Balancing the needs of offshore wind growth, grid reinforcement and ever-increasing data flows will require steady investment and closer cooperation between energy and telecom planners.

As consultation on the BEREC draft continues and new industrial commitments roll out, Europe’s subsea systems are entering a period of measured but meaningful evolution. The groundwork for a more resilient and better coordinated network is steadily taking shape.