Polar Connect
Polar Connect is a Northern European initiative aimed at establishing a secure and resilient fiber connection between Europe and Asia — following the shortest possible route through the central Arctic Ocean. Within this framework, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat is participating in two EU-funded projects: North Pole Fiber and Polar Connect Step 1.
Polar Connect is a global initiative to establish a high-capacity submarine cable between Northern Europe and East Asia via the Arctic Ocean – the shortest route between the two continents. The cable is designed to support 12 to 24 fiber pairs, enabling ultra-high transmission capacity while bypassing geopolitically sensitive areas such as the Red Sea, where approximately 90 percent of today’s fiber-optic connections between Europe and Asia are currently routed.
Explore the broader Polar Connect Initiative and how it supports secure, scalable, and future-ready digital infrastructure across the Arctic region.
Projects within Polar Connect with EU funding
The North Pole Fiber project, 22-EU-DIG-NPF, is carrying out preparatory work for Polar Connect – a global project that establishes new fiber cables between Europe and Asia.
Polar Connect Step 1 maps the optimal route for Polar Connect's submarine cable between Europe and Asia via the Arctic.