Sensnet Analytics: European Fiber-Optic Sensing for Critical Infrastructure Security
European nations are racing to secure their critical infrastructure against new-age threats, from undersea cable sabotage to pipeline tampering. In this context, a small Norwegian spin-off is making big waves. Sensnet Analytics AS, born out of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has emerged as an innovator in distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) – a technology that turns ordinary fiber-optic cables into a network of ears on the ground and under the sea. This deep-tech startup has a straightforward but compelling vision: continuously listen to the heartbeat of critical infrastructure to catch troubles before they escalate. Headquartered in Norway and armed with academic pedigree, Sensnet Analytics offers a home-grown European solution at a time when the EU and NATO urgently seek more autonomy in safeguarding vital assets. The company’s work – monitoring everything from remote power lines to seabed pipelines – is quietly redefining how Europe can protect itself. It’s a story of local innovation meeting strategic necessity: a Norwegian fiber-sensing technology that could help Europe keep its lights on, its trains running, and its pipelines safe in an increasingly uncertain world. It’s also a story that has piqued the interest of defense planners – and one that might just persuade you that the future of Europe’s infrastructure security lies in listening through the lines.