Polar Connect 2026 Expedition Reaches 80°N for Arctic Cable Route Mapping
The Polar Connect 2026 expedition reached the sea ice just north of 80°N in late July 2026, conducting detailed seabed mapping at several challenging sections along the proposed subsea cable route, including a mid-ocean spreading ridge where two tectonic plates are gradually moving apart [citation:??].
Expedition Goals:
Map the seabed beneath permanent sea ice
Address pioneering challenges of laying fibre-optic cable in extreme Arctic conditions
Bring together expertise in fibre-optic technology, submarine cable installation, ship design, Arctic navigation, and environmental science
Ulf Jonsell, Expedition Coordinator, wrote: "I have worked with research activities involving Oden for more than ten years, but this is my first time participating in an expedition. That firsthand understanding is invaluable in helping us reach sound conclusions about the best approach when the time comes to lay the cable" [citation:??].
The Polar Connect project aims to establish a fibre-optic cable route through the Arctic, creating a shorter, more resilient path for global data traffic and enabling enhanced environmental monitoring of the region .
