NATO-Funded Project To Reroute Internet To Space In Case Of Disruption To Critical Infrastructure

A new NATO-funded initiative aims to make the internet less vulnerable to disruption by rerouting the flow of information into space in the event that undersea cables are attacked or accidentally severed. The $2.5 million project, launched on 31 July 2024, was partially funded by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security programme (SPS).

“Through this SPS-supported project, NATO is bringing together Allies, prominent institutions including the Cornell, John Hopkins and Swedish Defence Universities and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology as well as telecommunications companies to address the urgent need for a more resilient internet infrastructure worldwide,” said Dr Eyup Turmus, SPS Advisor and Programme Manager at NATO.

The project aims to produce a working prototype within two years, with a demonstration planned at the Blekinge Institute of Technology, a NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Maritime Research Centre in Sweden.

The Hybrid Space/Submarine Architecture Ensuring Infosec of Telecommunications (HEIST) consortium leading the project aims to develop a hybrid network combining submarine cables and satellite communications to ensure a continuous flow of data. It will bring together existing technologies, address legal and jurisdictional challenges, and foster international collaboration between NATO Allies and partners, including the US, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland.