Why are Arctic undersea cables going regional?

Since the late 2000s, several Western countries have attempted to build optical fiber subsea cables across the Arctic Ocean. Some projects, such as Finland’s Arctic Connect, have been suspended, while others are still years away from completion.

While the Far North Fiber and Polar Connect projects are still on the agenda, the time it will take to secure partnerships, gather findings, and build a commercial case in an unstable geopolitical climate means they are far from being realised.

At the same time, pressing security, militarization and sovereignty concerns are driving the development of regional Arctic undersea cables. For both Norway and Greenland, recent moves to overhaul digital infrastructure reveal a shift toward digital sovereignty, where state control over Arctic fiber cables is prioritised over commercial profit.

Securing connectivity in Northern Norway

Norway is advancing a government-funded replacement for the ageing Svalbard cable system, linking mainland Bodø, Jan Mayen, and Longyearbyen before the current infrastructure’s technical lifespan ends in 2028. A new digital infrastructure project, “Arctic Way,” is set to extend high-speed fiber connectivity deeper into the polar north than ever before.

Lacking a purely commercial business case, the project is primarily a strategic defense initiative designed to secure Norway’s sovereignty in the High North. However, limited excess capacity will be released to the market.

The Norwegian Parliament approved the project on March 25, with SubCom contracted for production and laying of the cables, and the Norwegian Armed Forces designated as a primary customer for certain segments

Planned to go live in 2028, the system will span 1,567 miles (2,522 km). Once completed, it will stand as the world’s northernmost repeated subsea cable system, securing a vital communications lifeline for communities and strategic interests in the High North.

Major work began in 2025 with comprehensive route surveys of the seabed, followed by the manufacturing of the specialized cable in 2026. While crews build the necessary terminal stations on land through early 2027, the critical marine installation is scheduled for May to September 2027 to avoid the worst of the Arctic winter.

Delivered by the American subsea manufacturer SubCom, the Arctic Way is designed as an open cable system — a flexible architecture that allows for easier upgrades as technology evolves.

Greenland’s push for sovereignty in connectivity

Greenland is developing its telecom landscape through a policy of digital protectionism. The territory’s state-owned operator, Tusass, has effectively blocked low-earth orbit competitors such as Starlink — a move designed to protect the revenue streams that sustain Greenland’s expensive physical network.

These cables serve as Greenland’s lifeline, and constructing additional ones ensures the country remains connected even if issues arise. Greenland wants to keep its digital infrastructure under sovereign control rather than relying on foreign companies.

To make this happen, Greenland is mobilising funding from several sources. Denmark is covering the highest cost through its defense budget, paying for a secure cable link to Europe. The EU is adding grants to help lay new cables along Greenland’s coast, and Tusass is investing its own funds to bring fiber to towns and build a new data center in Nuuk.

By combining these efforts, Greenland is creating a strong, reliable network that depends on trusted partners, not private tech giants or countries that might pose a risk. For Greenland, this is about more than fast internet; it is about safety and sovereignty.

The recent rhetoric by U.S. President Donald Trump about acquiring Greenland further strengthens the case for Denmark financing a sovereign data cable for Greenland. It’s part of a push for more state and military-funded submarine cables in the Arctic.

What lessons does the regional development of these cables teach us at a larger scale, transarctic projects? The most viable pathway for these projects involves directed state funding, positioned as a strategic measure to safeguard allied interests.

Furthermore, integrating future transarctic projects into existing regional networks is likely to yield significant benefits as it will improve socio-economic opportunities of these remote Arctic places.

Alexandra Middleton is a Researcher at Oulu Business School, University of Oulu,  specializing in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and Arctic business development. With a doctorate in Economics and Business Administration, she has published extensively on climate change accountability, sustainable development, demographics, human capital, innovations, and connectivity solutions in the Arctic.

Bjørn Rønning is a senior representative of Norwegian Datacenter Industry, the Norwegian trade association for operators and suppliers that build and operate data centers and fibre infrastructure in Norway. Working at the intersection of industry, policy, and security, Bjørn focuses on strengthening the resilience of digital infrastructure, including data centres, energy systems, terrestrial fibre systems, and subsea cables.