Sparkle, the main international services operator in Italy, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) for innovative research aimed at using submarine fiber optic cables to monitor natural events such as earthquakes , volcanic eruptions and tsunamis in the Mediterranean. This project is a significant step in the progress of environmental monitoring and civil protection technologies, thanks to the synergy between Sparkle and INGV, who are committed to exploring new ways of using fiber optics in the geophysical field.
The use of fiber optics to detect natural events is nothing new, but the implementation of this technology in the Mediterranean represents a real revolution. Submarine cables, traditionally used for data traffic, are now being adapted to act as sensors, capable of detecting mechanical vibrations induced by seismic events, volcanic eruptions and rogue waves. Thanks to the technology of fiber sensingit is possible to monitor these phenomena in real time, even in difficult-to-reach environments such as the seabed.
The detection system exploits the polarization of the optical signal carried by the cables, allowing the identification of mechanical disturbances caused by natural phenomena and tracing their propagation. The initiative is possible thanks to the long-standing collaboration between Sparkle, the TIM Group and INGV, which have been conducting joint experiments in the sector for over two years.
The first monitoring activities involved Sparkle’s Mednautilus cable system, which extends 11,000 km from Sicily along the eastern Mediterranean. The cable, which reaches depths of up to 4,000 metersoffers a unique opportunity to monitor seafloor movements in real time and more precisely locate the epicenter of marine earthquakes. Mednautilus, thanks to its ring configuration, can collect data from multiple points of the sea basin, enhancing the effectiveness of the detection system.
Sparkle CEO Enrico Bagnasco and INGV President Carlo Doglioni during the signing of the Agreement
The memorandum of understanding between Sparkle and INGV is destined to contribute significantly to the security of our territory. Thanks to the sensor network, it will be possible to improve the ability to predict and warn of seismic events and tsunamis, thus contributing to civil protection. Furthermore, geophysical monitoring of the seabed will allow us to obtain crucial data for understanding natural phenomena, improving the management of resources and environmental safety.
“As a research body responsible for seismic and volcanic surveillance of the national territory in real time, INGV has always paid particular attention to technological innovation for the progress of scientific research“, reports Carlo Doglioni, President of INGV. “It is for this reason that today we welcome with satisfaction the signing of the agreement with Sparkle which will be able to contribute, with its technologies, to implementing our tools for the observation and increasingly better understanding of natural phenomena“.
“We are proud to collaborate with a prestigious institution like INGV and to put our submarine cables at the service of research in such a valuable area of investigation for the protection of the environment and people“, said Enrico Bagnasco, CEO of Sparkle. “More than a hundred years ago as Italcable we laid the first transoceanic cable between Anzio and Buenos Aires to allow Italians to communicate with their compatriots who emigrated to Argentina. Today we renew this legacy by bringing the Internet and digital services around the world and pushing the frontiers of global telecommunications beyond pure connectivity to improve people’s quality of life“.
The protocol also provides for the involvement of other national bodies dealing with underwater technological innovation. Among these, the National Underwater Dimension Center (PNS), located in La Spezia, which brings together the excellence of the public and private sectors in the maritime and underwater fields.
Cover image created with DALL-E
