Swedish telecommunications company GlobalConnect AB is preparing to lay a new fiber-optic cable connecting Sweden, Estonia, and Finland, which could become operational as early as next year, reports ERR News.A survey of the seabed near Saaremaa is set to begin soon. The cable will run from Gotland in Sweden to Saaremaa, then continue past Hiiumaa to the Estonian mainland. From there, it will pass through Harju County and back into the sea, following the seabed to Helsinki. The land-based section of the cable in Estonia will span the distance from Haapsalu to Viimsi.Tõnu Nirk, Head of the Communications Markets Department at the Estonian Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs, told ERR that the project in Estonia includes both subsea and terrestrial fiber-optic cables. The land-based section will be approximately 250 kilometers long, while the subsea connections to Sweden, Finland, and two of Estonia’s largest islands will add another 300 kilometers or so.A seabed survey will be conducted to facilitate the creation of this new connection. During this process, the most suitable route for the cable will be identified, and other factors requiring consideration during the planning phase will be evaluated. The information gathered will be used in the project’s development and to prepare an initial assessment regarding whether an environmental impact assessment is necessary.The project developer—and future owner—GlobalConnect AB is responsible for organizing the required studies. The Estonian Ministry of the Environment has issued the necessary permits to the company, which remain valid until the end of this year. An application for the right to use the seabed and for authorization to carry out construction work to lay the cable is currently being reviewed by the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.Preparations for the project began in 2025; the cable is scheduled to be installed this year and next, with the connection expected to become operational next year.Currently, there are two communication links between Sweden and Estonia, and six between Finland and Estonia. However, in recent years, various pipelines and communication cables have been damaged on several occasions by vessels; consequently, Nirk noted the need to establish new, alternative connections. He pointed out that it is important for Estonia to establish additional routes—physically separated from existing communication cables—to ensure that the international exchange of information is not interrupted.The ministry did not comment on whether the project includes backup lines for use in the event that the primary connection is severed.The installation of the Sweden–Estonia–Finland communication cable will cost approximately 40 million euros, with 15.7 million euros provided by the European Union. Nirk stated that while the Estonian government is not funding the project itself, it assisted in securing EU financing and is providing support for the construction of the cable, which will serve both domestic and international communication needs.Over the past year, vessels linked to Russia have damaged a gas pipeline and an electrical connection between Estonia and Finland, as well as several international communication cables located in the Baltic Sea.
New communication cable to connect Estonia, Finland, and Sweden
