Polar Connect
Polar Connect is a Northern European initiative for secure and reliable data connectivity from Europe to Asia and North America via the North Pole for the benefit of research, development, innovation and education.
Today, around 90 percent of data communication between Europe and Asia passes through the Red Sea, which is both geographically and geopolitically challenging. Polar Connect's route through the Arctic is the shortest and most risk-reducing route between Europe and Asia. The new route will give both continents access to secure and ultra-high data transmission capacity through 16 to 24 fiber pairs, and because the route is half the length of today's connections, it will significantly reduce the time it takes to send a data packet.
Polar Connect Step 1
Polar Connect Step 1 is a sub-project under Polar Connect, where 5 Nordic actors join forces to conduct feasibility studies for the undersea fiber connection across the North Pole.
Polar Connect Step 1 focuses on creating the technical, economic and political conditions for a new data connection with Asia. Work begins with the design of a fiber optic cable between the North Calotte and eastern Asia across the Arctic Ocean. At the same time, the process of obtaining the necessary permits begins. An important part of the project will be to conduct the necessary surveys and mapping of the Arctic seabed, which is one of the world's most unexplored areas.
DeiC, together with DTU Elektro, has the exciting task of making proposals and plans for the scientific instrumentation of the submarine cable itself and helping to ensure that we get the most optimal collection of information from the seabed. In addition to precise mapping of large unexplored areas of the seabed, this work can further contribute to gaining greater insights into the geological and biological processes on the seabed.
Join us
We are actively seeking new partners as the project develops. If the project interests you, you are welcome to contact DeiC.
The Swedish Research Council via Sunet is coordinating Polar Connect Step 1 and has been awarded SEK 40 million in funding for the work. Partners in the project are NORDUnet, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, DeiC and DTU Elektro and Global Connect. Polar Connect Step 1 runs from the beginning of 2025 and 3 years ahead. The development of Polar Connect is EU-funded and the goal is for the connection to open in 2032.
Collaborators
Sunet, the Swedish Research Council, DTU, NORDUNet, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, DeiC and GlobalConnect are collaborating on this project.
The Polar Connect Step 1 project is co-funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors 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 these.
[Project abbreviation: 23-EU-DIG-PC1]
We are actively seeking new partners as the project develops. If the project interests you, please feel free to contact us by email.