France hit by coordinated attacks on telecom infrastructure

France has been targeted by a new wave of sabotage attacks, this time focusing on telecom operators. The incidents occurred on Sunday night and have affected fibre optic networks across six regions of the country.

French authorities have confirmed that installations belonging to major telecom providers SFR and Bouygues Telecom were vandalised. The attacks appear to be well-coordinated, with damage reported in southern France and near the Luxembourg border, as well as in areas surrounding Paris.

Marina Ferrari, France’s Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, said: “Damages committed in several departments last night affected our telecommunications operators.

“I condemn these cowardly and irresponsible acts in the strongest possible terms.”

The full extent of the damage and the number of customers impacted remains unclear. However, the targeting of fibre optic cables suggests a deliberate attempt to disrupt communications across multiple regions simultaneously.

The timing of these attacks is particularly troubling, coinciding with France’s hosting of the Olympic Games. While Paris itself was not directly affected by the telecom sabotage, the incidents raise questions about potential threats to national security and the stability of essential services during a period of heightened international attention.

Law enforcement agencies have launched investigations into the telecom attacks, seeking to identify those responsible and determine any potential links to other recent acts of sabotage. The involvement of multiple regions and the technical nature of the targets suggest a level of coordination that will likely be a key focus for investigators.

As France grapples with these infrastructure challenges, the government faces mounting pressure to enhance security measures around critical communications and transportation networks.

The attacks serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in modern, interconnected societies and the potential for disruption through targeted acts of sabotage. In particular, subsea cables have been highlighted as being key targets for sabotage.

The French Government says Russia has been “upscaling in the field of seabed warfare” and is “very active” in everything related to underwater combat. NATO says Russia is “actively mapping” critical infrastructure on the seabed.

A UK defence report in 2021 said Russia is developing “deep sea capabilities which can threaten undersea cables”. Furthermore, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the UK’s armed forces, says there has been a “phenomenal increase in Russian submarine and underwater activity” over the last 20 years.

Industry experts are calling for increased investment in network resilience and rapid response capabilities to mitigate the impact of future attacks. The incidents also highlight the need for improved cooperation between public and private sectors in safeguarding essential services.

As investigations continue and efforts to restore affected services are underway, French authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around telecoms installations.

(Photo by Anthony Choren)

See also: Germany prolongs banning Chinese 5G equipment

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Tags: broadband, connectivity, cybersecurity, europe, fiber, fibre, france, Networks, Operators, sabotage, Security, telecoms