Riga, Jan 26 (LETA) - Submarine optical cable of the Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC) in the Baltic Sea has been damaged early on Sunday morning, LVRTC informed LETA.

LVRTC explained that the center's data transmission monitoring system detected a disruption of data transmission services in the Ventspils-Gotland section. LVRTC continues to provide services via other data transmission routes. Currently, there is a possible delay in data transmission speeds, but for the most part this does not affect end-users in Latvia, the center explained.

LVRTC, in cooperation with its technology partners, has carried out a performance test of the system as well as network measurements from equipment in Ventspils. "At the moment there are grounds to believe that the cable is significantly damaged and that the damage is due to external influences," said Vineta Sprugaine, Head of Corporate Communications at LVRTC.

LVRTC has informed the relevant authorities. The center has also initiated criminal proceedings.

Given that the cable is more than 50 meters deep, the nature of the damage will only be determined once repair work on the cable has started, Sprugaine added.

According to the information available to LVRTC, the electronic communications operators that have been using the fiber optical submarine cable so far are using other data transmission routes to provide their services.

LVRTC is continuing negotiations with a company that can technically ensure the repair of the cable. The centre noted that this is a foreign company with extensive experience in such technologically complex tasks. Repair work will start as soon as an agreement is reached to put the repair vessel to sea, Sprugaine explained.