Far North Fiber Advances Pan-Arctic Connectivity

By Trine Jonassen, High North News
April 12, 2023

The Far North Fiber project, which aims to build the first pan-Arctic submarine cable system connecting Europe and Asia via North America, takes a step forward with the start of the cable route study.

The planned cable system will run from Japan, via the Northwest Passage, to Europe with a landing in Alaska. European landings are planned in Norway, adjacent to Finland, and Ireland. There are also several branching units designed along the route to accommodate future branch connections in the Pacific, Canadian Arctic, and Atlantic.

It is estimated that the approx.15,000 km long submarine cable system will be operational by the end of 2026. The project has received funding from the EU's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital).

The Cable Route Study (CRS), along with the marine survey, is said to be a critical component of the project. The results will be used to define the best route for the Far North Fiber cable system in terms of safety, reliability, cultural and environmental factors, and economics. The cable route study will be completed in 2023.

The results of the CRS will support the upcoming marine survey, also scheduled to begin during 2023.

“We are very pleased to see the constantly growing interest in the FNF project from our key stakeholders, such as customers and investors as well as states and communities along the route. The cable route study is a concrete and exciting step forward and it is delightful to see how these steps ahead in the project interest the market”, says Ari-Jussi Knaapila, CEO of Cinia, in a press release.

Arctic aspects of the Cable Route Study, such as ice analysis, will receive focused attention, considering the unique trans-Arctic route. Significantly, the Far North Fiber system runs entirely through international waters and the maritime boundaries of Japan, the United States, Canada, and EU nations.