Victoria
Federal police urged to investigate Perth subsea cable faults
Two critical subsea communications cables off the coast of Western Australia have suffered disruptions, prompting calls for a federal police investigation.
A telecommunications company has called on the Australian Federal Police to investigate a sudden disruption to two vital subsea communications cables off the coast of Perth.
The faults, which occurred over the weekend, have affected infrastructure that is critical for Australia's international communications links. According to reporting by the wire service, the company that owns and operates the cables is urgently seeking answers to establish exactly what caused the damage.
At this stage, the precise nature of the faults remains unclear. The owning company has not publicly detailed whether the damage was caused by maritime activity, such as a ship dragging an anchor, or if there are suspicions of deliberate interference. Subsea cables are highly sensitive pieces of infrastructure that lie on the ocean floor, making them vulnerable to both natural movements and human activity.
The location of the faults off the Western Australian coast is a key gateway for Australia’s data traffic, connecting the nation to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Any disruption to these lines can redirect data traffic to alternative routes, potentially slowing internet speeds and affecting international communications.
It is not yet confirmed whether the Australian Federal Police have formally commenced an investigation into the incident, or what resources might be deployed to inspect the damage. Repairing deep-water cables typically requires specialised vessels and can take several weeks depending on weather conditions and the depth of the line.
The owning company is expected to provide further updates as technical teams assess the site of the disruption.
Observers will be watching to see if the Australian Federal Police launch a formal probe into the cause of the cable damage.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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