Strategic Arctic connectivity, built for resilience and low latency.
Our location benefits from robust regional fiber infrastructure and diverse routes to the global internet. In addition to existing terrestrial backbones, new pan-Arctic subsea systems that shorten paths between Europe, Asia, and North America will be most beneficial.


Polar Connect (North Pole Passage, Central Arctic)
Polar Connect is a long-term program coordinated by NORDUnet and Nordic research networks. The vision is a subsea fiber route across the Central Arctic Ocean near the North Pole, linking Northern Europe directly to East Asia.
Current status: seabed surveys and EU-funded “Polar Connect Step 1” preparation.
Expected timeline: project partners point to around 2030 or shortly thereafter, depending on survey results and Arctic shipping/icebreaker access.
Sources: [1] [3]
Two complementary Arctic corridors
North Pole Passage (Central Arctic): Shortest possible Europe -> Asia route, latency-optimized, via the North Pole.
Northwest Passage (North American Arctic): Adds resilience and community connectivity, spanning Greenland -> Canada -> Alaska to Northern Norway and Finland.


Far North Digital / Cinia project (Northwest Passage, North American Arctic)
In parallel, Cinia (Finland) and Far North Digital (US/Canada) are pursuing a subsea system through the Northwest Passage. This corridor would connect Northern Norway and Finland westward across Greenland, Canada, and Alaska, providing both trans-Pacific/Atlantic diversity and local service to Arctic communities.
Expected timeline: initial plans aimed for late 2020s, but schedules depend on permitting and financing.
NorthDC's CEO Dag-Kjetil Hansen highlighted several opportunities for connection along the Northwest Passage and the strong need for connectivity in Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. [3]
Sources:
References (accessed 4 Sept 2025):
[1] Swedish Polar Research Secretariat — North Pole Fiber: laying the foundations for Polar Connect → https://www.polar.se/en/project/north-pole-fiber-laying-the-foundations-for-polar-connect/
[2] NORDUnet — Polar Connect → https://nordu.net/polar-connect/
[3] High North News — Nytt samarbeid om arktisk undersjøisk fiberkabel → https://www.highnorthnews.com/nb/nytt-samarbeid-om-arktisk-undersjoisk-fiberkabel
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