Dutch fiber optics startup Optics11 has raised €17 million to help bolster the security of Europe’s energy systems and undersea communication cables—critical infrastructure increasingly under threat from both ageing hardware and geopolitical sabotage.
The Amsterdam-based company, founded in 2011, develops advanced fiber optic sensing technology that detects threats to power networks and maritime infrastructure in real time. The new investment round was led by deeptech fund FORWARD.one and energy-focused VC SET Ventures, signaling growing concern among European investors about infrastructure vulnerabilities in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Optics11’s technology is built around a simple but powerful concept: “We listen with light,” says CEO Paul Heiden. Their sensors use fiber optic cables to monitor vibrations and environmental signals, while their software interprets the data to identify potential threats. “We can hear that it is, for instance, a ship,” Heiden explains, “but sonar software can then tell that ship is a Russian ship.”
With over 95% of intercontinental internet traffic flowing through undersea cables, these routes have become high-value targets. Recent activity by Russian vessels, including dragging anchors across cable lines, has raised alarm across Europe. “They started mapping the infrastructure a few years ago,” Heiden says. “Now it’s turned into a kind of hooliganism—damaging cables to destabilize society.”
Fighting Ageing Infrastructure Alongside Sabotage Threats
But physical sabotage isn’t the only issue Optics11 is tackling. A lesser-known but urgent problem, according to Heiden, is Europe’s rapidly ageing fleet of high-voltage (HV) transformers—vital components of the power grid that regulate voltage levels for safe electricity transmission. Research by energy firm PTR shows that 40% of Europe’s HV transformers have already exceeded their expected lifespan.
Optics11’s fiber optic technology can detect the earliest signs of wear and tear in these transformers, offering utility providers an opportunity to take preventive action before failures occur. “We’re really addressing the resilience of critical infrastructure,” says Heiden, “whether it’s threatened by age and degeneration or by state actors trying to destroy it.”
The company’s dual focus—on cybersecurity and maintenance—reflects the broader shift in how Europe is thinking about its infrastructure. As threats evolve from natural degradation to geopolitical manipulation, technology like Optics11’s may play a crucial role in safeguarding the backbone of modern society.
