A groundbreaking initiative supported by NATO is laying the foundation for a more secure internet in the future. Through a unique hybrid solution, combining underwater cables and satellite communication, Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) and the Marine Technology Centre of Sweden (MTC) are developing the technology that will protect against digital interruptions and guarantee uninterrupted data traffic - even when the deepest cables of the sea are threatened.
"We are proud to be the academic partner in Sweden, and we look forward to increasing knowledge about how we protect critical infrastructure. The initiative will strengthen BTH's research expertise and contribute to the security of Sweden and our allies," says Henric Johnson, Professor at BTH.
The HEIST (Hybrid Space/Submarine Architecture Ensuring Infosec of Telecommunications) project is led by Greg Falco, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University in the US. The initiative, which is mentioned on the
official NATO website was officially launched in July and is partly supported by NATO's Science for Peace and Security programme.
In addition to researchers from Cornell University and BTH, leading researchers from Johns Hopkins University, ETH Zurich, the National Defence University and others are participating, along with telecom companies and government representatives from several NATO countries. The collaboration emphasises the need for a more robust internet infrastructure to withstand future disruptions.
"Ninety-five per cent of all communication takes place via underwater cables. We need to manage disruptions in that flow to build a resilient society. The ambition is to be able to redirect the internet from the deep sea to space if necessary", says Oskar Frånberg, associate professor at BTH and research leader at MTC.
Over the next two years, the researchers will develop a prototype that will be demonstrated at the Blekinge Institute of Technology and the Marine Technology Centre of Sweden. The planned demonstration is part of the ongoing work at the Marine Technology Centre of Sweden in Karlskrona, which is vital as a marine innovation hub for Sweden and NATO. If the project is successful, satellite companies have expressed interest in taking over the infrastructure and scaling up the technology globally.
"We are proud to be a part of this important endeavour, which drives new technologies and reflects our ability to work at the interface between civil and military. Of course, it also strengthens Sweden's role in international research cooperation", concludes Henric Johnson.