● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Finland to Disconnect Fiber-Optic Link to Russia as Lease Expires
Key points
- Fingrid will disconnect a fiber-optic link to Russia.
- The disconnection occurs when the lease agreement expires, reportedly by year-end.
- The link was part of a cross-border electricity connection that ended in 2022.
- Impact on internet connectivity between the countries is expected to be limited.
Finland Disconnects Telecommunications Link
Finland's state-owned grid operator, Fingrid, confirmed it will disconnect a fiber-optic telecommunications link to Russia. This decision follows the cessation of electricity trade between the two countries in 2022, which occurred after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The telecommunications connection will be taken out of service upon the expiration of its current lease agreement, anticipated at the end of the year.
Context of the Disconnection
The telecommunications connections were originally part of the cross-border electricity transmission infrastructure between Finland and Russia. The physical infrastructure for electricity transmission has been dismantled since the electricity connection ceased operating in 2022. This move represents the removal of another piece of cross-border infrastructure.
Anticipated Impact on Connectivity
Authorities have indicated that the impact of this disconnection on telecommunications connectivity between Finland and Russia is expected to be very limited. While Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported that only one fiber-optic cable is affected, earlier reports from Russian business daily Kommersant suggested multiple cables could be disconnected. Russian industry sources also anticipate a limited overall impact on internet connectivity for northwestern Russia, as traffic can be rerouted through alternative international links, including routes via Belarus, the Baltic states, and submarine cables.
Russian Response and Repurposing
Russia's state-owned grid operator, Rosseti, stated that its section of the cross-border transmission line has operated under restricted conditions since 2022, with no electricity transmission. Rosseti plans to repurpose this infrastructure for domestic electricity sector needs and reported no information regarding the status of the Finnish section of the line.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Finland's national electricity transmission operator, Fingrid, will disconnect a fiber-optic telecommunications link to Russia when its lease expires at the end of the year. This action removes remaining cross-border infrastructure after electricity trade ceased in 2022, though authorities expect the impact on internet traffic to be limited.