EU highlights Polar Connect as a prioritised initiative

An EU expert panel has identified threats, vulnerabilities and dependencies in the submarine cable system. Their report describes physical areas where the EU sees a need to strengthen digital infrastructure and long-term Resilience. Polar Connect is listed as one of 13 priority projects.

Approximately 90 per cent of all data traffic between Europe and Asia passes through the Red Sea. The report emphasises that the current geopolitical situation is creating a growing need for alternative cable routes and highlights the Arctic region as an important alternative. The EU is therefore prioritising the route where Polar Connect plans to build underwater infrastructure across the North Pole and central Arctic, and estimates the cost of the work at around 2 billion euro.

“The announcement is welcome and will facilitate funding and implementation of Polar Connect. This high-capacity fibre optic cable complements existing routes through geopolitically vulnerable areas and strengthens Europe’s geopolitical autonomy,” says Elizabeth Greenfield, senior advisor at the Swedish Research Council and Chair of the Polar Connect Executive Team.

Several countries will contribute to the cost of the cable. The EU, Sweden and the Nordic countries are collaborating, and discussions are also underway with Japan, South Korea and other countries.

The Polar Connect initiative will give the Nordic countries a more prominent role in the EU's work on digital independence and create opportunities for deeper collaboration in Research, technology and sustainable development.

Read more about Polar Connect at polarconnect.net External link.