Norway intends to improve the security of the digital infrastructure needed for oil and gas production.

The country’s government made such a decision amid the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

$4.3 million will be spent to purchase new technology. It will allow the detection of threats to underwater fiber optic cables and investigate individual sections of the infrastructure.

“Norway’s position as a gas supplier is particularly important for Europe. We are currently developing several measures that could quickly improve the security of the digital infrastructure on which Norway’s oil and gas production depends,” says Sigbjørn Gjelsvik, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.

It is also noted that marine fiber-optic cables are an important part of the digital infrastructure on the continental shelf.

New technology could detect potential threats to underwater fiber optic cables, namely by analyzing acoustic signals.

There are also plans to purchase equipment capable of detecting interference with satellite services, such as GPS, on the Norwegian continental shelf.

After all, GPS failures could become a problem for several industries.

“With these measures, the government will improve the security of the Norwegian continental shelf. This includes both the work of telecommunications services and the general prevention and elimination of possible threats,” the Minister emphasized.

As previously reported, on September 26, two explosions were recorded near the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. At that time, two gas pipelines were damaged – Nord Stream-1 and Nord Stream-2. The leak originated at four gas pipeline sections in the exclusive economic zones of Denmark and Sweden.

During the investigation conducted immediately after the incident, German specialists reported that sabotage was conducted to disable the pipelines.

In November, the Swedish Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that traces of explosives were found at the explosion sites, which confirms the fact of sabotage. The investigation is ongoing.

After the explosions, NATO reported on strengthening the protection of facilities in the Baltic Sea.