The European Union has granted €5 million under its Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme to advance Polar Connect, a pioneering Arctic submarine cable initiative designed to link Europe, North America and East Asia through the Arctic Ocean. The funding supports the next phase of technical studies and planning, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to secure, resilient digital infrastructure amidst rising geopolitical uncertainty.
Polar Connect, a visionary subsea fibre-optic cable system, is envisioned as the shortest and most resilient digital route between three major global regions. The project is slated to go live by 2030, with its proposed path crossing deep Arctic waters, at depths of up to 4,000 metres via either a direct route near the North Pole or an alternative path through the Northwest Passage.
Strategic Imperatives: Geopolitics, Resilience and Speed
Today, around 90% of Europe-Asia internet traffic still flows through cables that traverse geopolitically fragile chokepoints such as the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Recent damage to multiple subsea cables in that region highlighted the vulnerability of global digital infrastructure, triggering significant slowdowns in intercontinental data traffic. By establishing an Arctic route, Polar Connect aims to diversify and strengthen global connectivity, reduce dependency on risk-prone corridors, and buttress Europe’s digital autonomy.
“By enabling a faster, more secure digital link between Europe, Asia, and the US, we are catering to the accelerated global demand for high data capacity and resilient digital infrastructure,” said Pär Jansson, SVP at GlobalConnect Carrier, one of the primary industry partners.
The Arctic cable will support ultra-high transmission capacity — designed for up to 12 to 24 fibre pairs capable of transporting massive volumes of data with significantly lower latency compared to current long-haul routes.
Focus on Polar Connect Step 2 (PC2)
The latest EU backing funds Polar Connect Step 2 (PC2), the next sub-project in the broader initiative. PC2 will deliver crucial preparatory work, including:
- Detailed Arctic cable route studies and mapping simulations.
- Additional seabed surveys to refine the optimal path through challenging Arctic terrains.
- Analyses of operational and maintenance challenges in extreme cold and deep sea conditions.
- Environmental impact assessments and identification of sustainable landing locations across all three continents.
- Ownership, financing and investment planning to attract commercial partners for future construction phases.
Under PC2, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat continues its leadership role, coordinating with beneficiaries including the Swedish Research Council, NORDUnet, CSC (Finland) and GlobalConnect. GÉANT, the pan-European research network, supports the project as an associated partner.
As part of the ongoing preparations, the Swedish icebreaker Oden has already begun mapping sections of the planned cable route, with roughly 45% of the seafloor surveyed as of late 2025. A second expedition is scheduled for 2026. These mapping missions are critical in charting safe seafloor paths for future cable laying.
Innovation, Sustainability and Future Challenges
Deployment of the Polar Connect cable will require specialised equipment capable of operating in central Arctic conditions, where sea ice can exceed four metres thick. Discussions in the Swedish parliament are ongoing about commissioning a new heavy icebreaker to support such operations.
Beyond commercial and connectivity imperatives, the initiative promises scientific value. Environmental sensing technologies embedded within the cable could offer real-time data on climate, oceanography and seismic activity, enhancing Arctic research capabilities.
Looking Ahead
The EU’s investment in Polar Connect reflects its broader strategy to expand backbone digital infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity and diversify global routes away from geopolitical chokepoints. Submarine cables carry nearly all intercontinental internet traffic; enhancing their resilience remains a top priority for the Commission.
As technical planning advances, the Polar Connect consortium involving research networks, telecom carriers and EU partners aims to secure further financing and move toward manufacturing and marine deployment later this decade.
