With Polar Connect, a groundbreaking initiative is emerging that aims to digitally link Europe and Asia via an entirely new route. A modern fiber-optic cable through the Arctic Ocean promises not only faster connections but also significantly higher security and stability for global data traffic.
Around 90 percent of today’s data traffic between Europe and Asia passes through geopolitically sensitive regions such as the Red Sea. Disruptions, conflicts, or sabotage incidents in these areas have repeatedly shown global impacts in recent years. Polar Connect provides a robust alternative, the shortest and safest connection between the two continents, via the Arctic.
The planned high-performance cable is expected to contain 12 to 24 fiber pairs, capable of transporting enormous volumes of data. The route not only offers lower latency but also strengthens the digital infrastructure in Arctic regions, which have so far had only limited connectivity.
The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat is involved in two EU-co-funded projects that form the technical and organizational foundation for Polar Connect:
• North Pole Fiber: Research and planning for the optimal cable route, including seabed analyses and environmental assessments.
• Polar Connect Step 1: Development of international cooperation and governance structures to prepare for the construction and operation of the cable.
“Polar Connect offers us a unique opportunity to enhance the long-term digital security of Europe and Asia,” explains the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. “The Arctic plays a central role in this, as a stable, sustainable, and strategic region for global communication.”
The initiative relies on international cooperation between Northern European and Arctic states, research institutions, and industry partners. The goal is to create a new, resilient digital highway by 2030 that will ensure more reliable global connections.
About Polar Connect
Polar Connect is a global initiative aimed at developing a secure and high-performance fiber-optic connection between Northern Europe and East Asia via the Arctic Ocean. With support from the European Union and Arctic partner countries, the project contributes to digital resilience and sustainable economic development in the region.
Learn more about the broader Polar Connect-Initiative and how it supports secure and scalable digital infrastructure throughout the Arctic region.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal