The European Union is exploring the possibility of laying new submarine cables through the Arctic to make internet connectivity between Asia and Europe more secure. Currently, nearly 90 percent of global traffic passes through the Middle East and the Red Sea, posing significant risks due to geopolitical instability in the region. This is reported by Ixbt.com reports .
According to The Verge, one of the projects under discussion is called Polar Connect. It aims to create a direct data transmission channel from Scandinavia to Asia via the North Pole. As an alternative, the Northwest Passage near the Canadian coast is also being considered.
The need to switch to new routes is linked to frequent incidents in the Red Sea. In particular, Houthi attacks and ship anchors damaging cables are causing long-term internet outages. Repairing such faults requires complex international agreements and takes months.
There are also technical challenges in implementing the Arctic project. Glaciers and icebergs pose a constant threat to submarine cables, and there is a shortage of specialized icebreakers to carry out repairs in such extreme conditions. Previous failures observed in the Quintillion project have shown how difficult it is to work in this region.
Nevertheless, the European Union views this infrastructure as a strategic backup route. Experts expect the new communication lines to be operational by around 2030.
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