A forward‑looking view for OptiBarrier partners and customers
1 What is the DNA?
The European Commission has signalled its intent to consolidate and modernise telecoms legislation in a single “Digital Networks Act” (DNA), targeted for late 2025 adoption.
While the final text is not yet public, the Commission’s scoping papers and recent stakeholder consultations (2024‑25) emphasise three strategic goals supplied in the user brief:
- Future‑proof connectivity rules that span fibre, 5G/6G and international cables.
- Harmonised cyber‑resilience requirements for critical network assets.
- Shared‑risk funding models to harden trans‑European communications against sabotage and natural hazards.
2 Why will subsea cables be in scope?
- The European Parliament has already identified “security threats to undersea communications cables and infrastructure – consequences for the EU” as a systemic risk to the Single Market and defence cooperation.
- Recent incidents in the Baltic and North Sea have shown that a single cable cut can disconnect an entire Member State or offshore energy hub for days, amplifying pressure for legally binding resilience standards.
Given that context, most observers expect the DNA to introduce:
- Baseline detection‑and‑alert capabilities for cable owners/operators.
- Time‑to‑respond thresholds requiring “over‑the‑horizon” awareness (minutes–hours, not seconds).
- Evidence‑grade logging to support attribution and insurance claims.
3 How OptiBarrier maps to the expected DNA obligations
| Draft DNA focus (indicative) | OptiBarrier capability |
|---|---|
| Continuous situational awareness along critical infrastructure | Persistent, 24 / 7 passive acoustic monitoring across > 100 km with no drop‑off in sensitivity |
| Redundancy and low maintenance in harsh marine environments | Fully passive pods, no wet‑side electronics, 10‑year design life |
| Rapid classification of threats (dragged anchor, ROV, diver, AUV) | 1 MHz constant sample rate (10 Hz–10 kHz bandwidth) supports AI/physics‑based ID |
| Interoperability with national/naval C2 systems | Standard digital audio output & open API (proven in LSI and ELAC integrations) |
4 What stakeholders should do now
- Asset owners – start mapping existing wet‑infrastructure against DNA‑style resilience targets. OptiBarrier’s modular pod spacing (≤ 1 km) means upgrades can follow risk hot‑spots rather than whole‑route overhauls.
- Telcos & energy consortia – budget for cap‑and‑grow deployments: a single shore‑landing interrogator can serve 32 pods today and expand by synchronising additional racks later.
- Navies & Coast Guards – engage early to align acoustic data feeds with national Recognised Maritime Picture (RMP) formats; OptiBarrier has already demonstrated “superior situational awareness” in joint trials.
- Law‑makers & insurers – use the DNA drafting window to reference proven fibre‑optic hydrophone technology so that compliance is measurable and technology‑neutral.
5 Looking ahead
The DNA’s final wording will crystallise Europe’s first legal performance yard‑stick for subsea‑infrastructure surveillance. OptiBarrier is positioned to meet—or exceed—every technical attribute highlighted to date:
- Early, reliable detection over continental‑shelf ranges.
- Minimal environmental footprint (no active pings, no high‑voltage feeds).
- Scalable, open architecture ready for multi‑national data fusion.
Questions?
Contact info@optics11.com or your Optics11 account manager to discuss DNA readiness assessments, pilot deployments, or joint technology demonstrations.
