The key facts

  • The UK proposes up to 14 years in prison and unlimited fines for sabotage of subsea infrastructure
  • The changes will update legislation dating from 1885 and add obligations for cable operators
  • Experts warn that strict penalties alone do not guarantee network resilience

New penalties for sabotaging subsea infrastructure

The UK government is drafting legislation under which the deliberate damage of critical subsea infrastructure — cables and pipelines — could carry up to 14 years in prison. Unlimited fines for interfering with the operation of subsea cables are also provided. If the changes are adopted, they will update legislation in force since 1885. The plans include new security obligations for cable operators and expand the government's powers in responding to national security threats.

Rationale and context of incidents

UK Telecommunications Minister Ian Murray said the threats had changed dramatically, pointing to 'suspicious Russian activity around critical subsea infrastructure'. The British measures follow a series of incidents in European waters: the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in 2022, damage to the Baltic connector gas pipeline in 2023, and several subsea cable accidents in the Baltic Sea in 2024.

Why cables are critically important

According to a 2025 report by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, subsea fibre-optic cables carry about 99% of intercontinental internet traffic — from video calls and email to financial transactions. The severing of a single cable does not necessarily lead to an internet outage: traffic can be rerouted through alternative connections. However, the additional load can overwhelm spare capacity and slow online payments, banking services and other applications that depend on stable connectivity.

Are tougher laws enough

Industry experts warn that strict penalties alone do not guarantee network resilience. Tony O'Sullivan, CEO of network operator RETN, noted in a comment to Euronews Next that laying additional cables along the same corridors provides no real protection: new lines often use the same shore landings and narrow passages. 'We call this