Polar Connect Information

Polar Connect is a Nordic initiative exploring a direct subsea cable route through the Arctic Ocean, connecting Europe and East Asia. The project focuses on feasibility studies, seabed mapping, and route assessment to enable resilient, low-latency global connectivity. Polar Connect: Pioneering a New Digital Highway Through the Arctic Polar Connect is a bold, forward-looking initiative that opens a completely new path for global digital connectivity, linking Europe with Japan and the broader Indo-Pacific region via the Arctic. This groundbreaking route has the potential to include landing points in the United States, Canada, and South Korea, redefining global internet traffic flows. Collaborative Efforts and Strategic Funding The Polar Connect is a Nordic initiative, developed by NORDUnet, the Swedish Research Council, and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat. The Initiative is funded by the Swedish Government, the European Commission, and NORDUnet, representing Sunet (Sweden), CSC (Finland), Sikt (Norway), DeiC (Denmark), and RHnet (Iceland) Global Endorsements for a Resilient Digital Future With its unique positioning and strategic relevance, Polar Connect is set to enhance global resilience, reduce latency between key regions, and support the next generation of scientific collaboration, innovation, and the development of new digital infrastructures. The initiative has also received broad political endorsement beyond the Nordic region. Funding proposals submitted to CEF Digital have been accompanied by formal support letters from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, and Poland, underscoring the initiative’s potential to serve as a critical new gateway between Northern Europe and the Indo-Pacific.