EU Funds €2 Billion Arctic Cable Route to Avoid Red Sea Chokepoint

The European Union has designated Polar Connect as a Cable Project of European Interest, allocating €9 million for preparatory work toward a €2 billion submarine cable through the Arctic. The project, led by Nordic operators and GlobalConnect Carrier, aims to establish Europe-Asia connectivity via Canada's Northwest Passage or across the North Pole. The initiative follows February 2024 Red Sea cable cuts that disrupted global traffic. A route survey begins summer 2026.