GlobalConnect Plans Baltic Cable Link

Marko Tooming, ERR News
October 21, 2026

GlobalConnect AB is preparing a new fiber-optic connection linking Sweden, Estonia and Finland, with seabed surveys near Saaremaa the next reported field activity. According to ERR News, the Swedish telecommunications company will develop and own the infrastructure, which is expected to enter service in 2027. The planned route runs from Gotland through Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, across mainland Estonia in the Tallinn area and onward to Helsinki. This is a separate project from the older Sweden-Aland-Finland cable, not an update to that route.

The project combines approximately 300 kilometers of subsea cable with 250 kilometers of terrestrial fiber in Estonia. Its overland section is planned between Haapsalu and Viimsi, passing through Harju County before the connection crosses the seabed to Finland. The combination of island landings, a mainland crossing and international submarine sections makes the terrestrial route an integral part of the connection. European Union support through the Connecting Europe Facility Digital program forms part of the project's financing. Estonia is not contributing direct government funding, but has supported efforts to obtain EU assistance and coordinate implementation.

The additional route is intended to strengthen regional connectivity and provide physical separation from existing links. Estonia currently has two communications connections with Sweden and six with Finland, according to the ministry information reported by ERR. Damage to Baltic subsea infrastructure has increased the importance of alternative paths that can support international communications when other cables are disrupted. The project is also intended to accommodate growing data demand, although no specific transmission capacity was disclosed. The ministry did not confirm whether the design includes backup connections for use if the main connection fails.

Estonia's Ministry of Climate has issued marine survey permits for the current development work. Applications for seabed-use rights and submarine cable construction permits remain under review by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority. The surveys will inform route design and a preliminary assessment of whether an environmental impact assessment is needed; no environmental determination is reported. Preparations began in 2025, and installation work is scheduled to continue into 2027. The 2027 service date remains a target, with survey work and outstanding permitting still part of the project's current development status.

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