Currently, about 90 percent of data communication between Europe and Asia passes through the Red Sea, a route that poses both geographical and geopolitical challenges. Polar Connect’s Arctic route is the shortest and least risky path between Europe and Asia. The new route will offer both continents access to secure, ultra-high-capacity data transmission through 16 to 24 fiber pairs. Because the route is only half the length of current connections, it will significantly reduce the time it takes to send data packets.
The development of Polar Connect is EU-funded aiming to open the connection in 2032.
Read more about the new Arctic route from Europe to Asia and North America here: https://polarconnect.net/.
Polar Connect Step 1
Polar Connect Step 1 is a sub-project under Polar Connect, in which five Nordic partners join forces to carry out preliminary studies for the subsea fiber connection across the North Pole.
Polar Connect Step 1 focuses on establishing the technical, economic, and political groundwork for a new data connection to Asia. The work begins with the design of a fiber-optic cable between Northern Scandinavia and East Asia across the Arctic Ocean. At the same time, the process of obtaining the necessary permits will be initiated. A key element of the project is conducting the required surveys and mapping of the Arctic seabed — one of the most unexplored regions in the world.
In collaboration with DTU Electro DeiC has the exciting task of proposing and planning the scientific instrumentation of the actual submarine cable. Our work will help ensure optimal collection of data from the seabed. In addition to detailed mapping of large unexplored seabed areas, this work may also contribute to greater insights into geological and biological processes at the ocean floor.
The Swedish Research Council, via Sunet, is coordinating Polar Connect Step 1 and has received SEK 40 million in funding for the project. Project partners include NORDUnet, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, DeiC, DTU Electro, and GlobalConnect.
Polar Connect Step 1 is running from the beginning of 2025 for a period of three years.
More information
Learn more about Polar Connect and how the project supports secure, scalable, and future-proof digital infrastructure across the Arctic region.
Get involved
We are actively seeking new collaboration partners as the project develops. If you're interested, feel free to contact us by e-mail: martin.bech@deic.dk.
Polar Connect Step 1 Project is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
[Project Acronym: 23-EU-DIG-PC1]