To Upgrade Existing Subsea Fibre Cables to Svalbard and Deploy Technology on New Cable System

Space Norway, the Norwegian state-owned company, has signed an agreement with the American company Ciena. The agreement extends the life of the two older subsea fibre cables to Svalbard. It also fits modern optical equipment on the new Arctic Way cable system. The two existing cables are estimated to be usable until 2028, the year Arctic Way is due to begin operating.

The government gave Space Norway the task in 2025 of building a fibre-optic link connecting the mainland with Svalbard and Jan Mayen. The Svalbard cables, which Space Norway owns, were laid in 2004. Once a cable passes its technical end date, faults and outages become more likely. With the upgrade agreed, Space Norway expects the cables to keep working for several years after 2028 and to act as a backup to Arctic Way. One cable was damaged in 2022, probably through outside interference, but the police closed the case for lack of evidence.

Pia Birgitte Bruhn of Space Norway, where she is Vice President of Cable Systems, said in a press release that dependable connectivity matters in the Arctic. She pointed to the role of the fibre link for civil society, business, satellite operations and research in Svalbard. She said the cooperation with Ciena prepares Arctic Way for service.

Thomas Soerensen of Ciena, where he is Vice President of Global Subsea and MOFN, said Ciena is proud to be selected by Space Norway. He said organisations running critical connectivity in remote places need infrastructure designed for long-term durability.

The American company SubCom is to install Arctic Way in the summer of 2027. Space Norway signed a contract with SubCom last year covering survey, design, manufacturing and installation. The cable will start at Bodø and run into the Norwegian Sea. There it splits at a branching unit: one branch goes to Jan Mayen, the other to Svalbard.

Jan Mayen has no subsea fibre link at present, and communication there goes by satellite. The island's new station building is planned to be finished in spring 2027. Forsvarsbygg (the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency) is constructing it for around NOK 1.5 billion.

Coverage: High North News