Fincantieri, an Italian company, and Sparkle, a unit of Telecom Italia that deals with submarine cables and surveillance systems for telecommunications cable networks in the oceans have agreed on developing solutions to monitor and protect these cables.

In a joint press release, the companies stated that the deal is intended to guarantee the operational resilience and growth of Italy's technological sector by ensuring the connectivity.

Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero stated that "this collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to digital safety, but also allows us to develop underwater civilian operations along with military operations."

State-controlled shipbuilder invests more in the underwater business, as it views it as a lucrative one given the geopolitical tensions that exist and the growing reliance on submarine network.

Sparkle has a fiber optic network that spans more than 600 000 km, 90% of which are submarine cables. The company has signed projects with partners for the protection of its cables, including one with the Italian Navy that will be completed in 2022. (Reporting and editing by Giulia Sereti, Giulia Chiumento)

(source: Reuters)