Norway Wants New Submarine Fiber Connection to Svalbard and Jan Mayen: “It Is Urgent”
The current submarine fiber connection to Svalbard was established in 2004 and reaches its technical lifespan in 2008. (Photo: Bjoertvedt - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Norwegian Government want to enter into an agreement with Space Norway to establish a new submarine fiber connection to Svalbard and Jan Mayen. "If we are to have a connection by 2028, it is urgent to start seabed surveys," says Cecilie Myrseth (Labor), Minister of Trade and Industry.
The current submarine fiber connection to Svalbard was established in 2004 and reaches its technical lifespan in 2028. After this, the risk of errors and service interruptions increases, and it may be difficult to obtain spare parts.
Today, there are two fiber cables connecting the mainland and Svalbard. They provide internet and other communication to the archipelago and stretch 1400 kilometers between Longyearbyen and Harstad in northern Norway.
In January 2022, one of these cables were damaged. The cable was broken and destroyed by outside forces, but the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Urgent
"It is urgent to start seabed surveys if we are to have a new connection by 2028," says the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, Cecilie Myrseth (Labor), in a press release.
Instead of waiting for the revised national budget in June, the Government has asked the Parliament for funding through a separate proposition so that seabed surveys can start in the summer of 2025.
Important part of the digital foundation in Norway.
The submarine cable to Svalbard is considered critical infrastructure and essential to maintaining a modern family community on Svalbard.
Owned by Space Norway
"I am very happy that we are moving forward in the work of establishing a new submarine fiber connection," says the Minister of Justice and Public Security Astri Aas-Hansen (Labor).
Space Norway, which owns the current connection to Svalbard, has worked on developing a solution to replace today's submarine connection.
The project, which has a cost framework of NOK 2.8 billion, will ensure robust telecommunications connections under Norwegian state control to Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
Digital foundation
"We are now facilitating digital communications services. The fiber connection to Svalbard and the new connection to Jan Mayen is an important part of the digital foundation in Norway," says the Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, Karianne Oldernes Tung (Labor).
"Instead of waiting for the revised national budget in June, we are choosing to ask the Parliament for funding through a separate proposition so that seabed surveys can start in the summer of 2025," says Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth (Labor). (Photo: David Berg Tvetene/NDF)
The fiber connection to Svalbard is central to the satellite operations, businesses, research, and community there.
As of today, there is no submarine fiber cable connection to Jan Mayen, and communication with the island takes place through satellite. The Armed Forces, responsible for the operations of the community of Jan Mayen, consider this to be no longer sufficient.
Compared to establishing two separate connections, this will save significant time and money.
"Establishing a submarine fiber cable to Jan Mayen is important because it will strengthen the ability for situational awareness and overview in a strategically important area for Norway and our allies. This strengthening is part of the long-term plan for the Armed Forces," says the Government's new MoD, Tore O. Sandvik (Labor).
Space Norway's solution consists of a sea fiber cable from Bodø to a connection point in the Norwegian Sea. From this connection point, one branch will go to Jan Mayen, and the other will go to Svalbard.
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Under state control
Seabed surveys are planned to start in the summer of 2025, and the connection will become operational in 2028. The US supplier, SubCom LLC, of submarine fiber connections, will conduct the surveys and establish the connection.
Space Norway will be the general contractor and lead the establishment project on behalf of the state.
"It is of central significance that the submarine fiber connection and its establishment is under Norwegian state control. The Norwegian state-owned company Space Norway will ensure such control by implementing the project," says MoD Sandvik.
User payment
Space Norway has negotiated with customers in Svalbard on conditions for establishing a new submarine fiber connection on a market basis. Still, it has not reached an agreement with the customers on a price that makes it possible for Space Norway to establish the connection as a market-based investment.
Therefore, establishing a new connection at this time must take place as a state project.
The solution proposed to the Norwegian Parliament will make the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries the owner of the new fiber connection. The Ministry is working to find an appropriate organization for future ownership and operational responsibility.
"It is a fundamental prerequisite that there should be a user payment for the future use of the connection, as elsewhere in the country. Commercial customers in Svalbard must expect to pay market prices," says Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries Myrseth.
