Bell Alleges Deliberate Sabotage of Subsea Cable Connecting Cape Breton to Newfoundland, Cut Twice
Bell is seeking answers after its subsea fibre-optic cable connecting western Newfoundland to Nova Scotia was cut for the second time within a year.
David Joice, the company’s networks director, stated that the telecommunications cable was most recently severed on Dec. 24, almost a year after the initial incident on Jan. 4, 2024.
During an interview on Wednesday, Joice revealed, “We determined that it was intentionally cut by humans for the second time. It was a significant investment for us, and finding out it was deliberately cut is concerning.”
The cable spans the Cabot Strait from Dingwall, N.S., to Codroy, N.L. When crews retrieved the ends of the three-centimetre cable, they observed a clean cut, suggesting the use of a specialized tool.
Joice suggested that an anchor may have become entangled with the line, located approximately 30 meters below the surface, resulting in someone cutting it to free a ship.
He emphasized, “If you encounter this situation, please refrain from cutting the cable. It is crucial infrastructure for Newfoundland and Labrador residents and customers.”
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The cable, shielded by coils of thick wire acting as armor, serves as a crucial link for internet, television, and long-distance communications between the two provinces, according to Joice.
Joice mentioned that Bell has reached out to the RCMP to identify the culprits behind the cable slicing and their motives.
In the interim, the cable has been repaired and reinstalled in the ocean, where remotely controlled vehicles buried it deeper into the seabed. The company is exploring additional surveillance measures, Joice added.
He stressed, “It’s important to raise awareness about the presence of these cables and the need to avoid interfering with them.”
