Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 6, GlobalConnect has initiated the construction of four new subsea cable systems to improve digital connectivity between Sweden, Estonia and Finland. The €40 million project will expand fibre capacity in the Baltic Sea region and strengthen cross-border digital infrastructure.

The new system includes approximately 550 km of subsea cables and several hundred kilometres of terrestrial fibre in Estonia. A 300 km subsea link will connect Gotland in Sweden to the Estonian islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, then extend inland to Tallinn and across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki. In addition, a 500 km route between Gävle, Stockholm and Helsinki, first announced in July, is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Together, these developments will create a 1,250 km digital ring across the Baltic Sea. According to GlobalConnect, the network expansion will increase its capacity by 400%. The project is partly supported by €15 million in funding from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility. Permitting and survey work has already begun, with construction expected to continue through 2027.

Pär Jansson, Senior Vice President of GlobalConnect Carrier, said: “We aim to deliver digital infrastructure, futureproofing the Nordics. This requires continuous expansion to keep pace with demand. We’re seeing a rapid increase in the need for secure, high-capacity fibre infrastructure – driven by the fast growth of major data centers and AI hotspots across the region. The route between Sweden and Estonia is underserved, with existing infrastructure being 30 years old. This new option will allow more traffic to flow, create resilience and offer lower latency.”

Estonian Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta also welcomed the initiative: “This vital project will add significant redundancy in the cross-border connectivity between our nations, the Baltic states and digital hubs in Central Europe, as well as improving the digital resilience in the region.”

Sweden’s Minister for Public Administration Erik Slottner commented: “Sweden has received a financial jackpot for strengthening our digital infrastructure with the help of EU funds. Several initiatives, particularly important regarding the worsened security situation, can now be implemented with full force. The project will contribute to a strong and well-developed digital infrastructure. This is crucial for Sweden's competitiveness, innovation development and access to digital services.”

With demand for digital capacity accelerating across Northern Europe, the new subsea and land-based links are expected to support long-term growth in data traffic, enhance network resilience and reduce latency. By combining investment from GlobalConnect and support from European funding, the Baltic Sea project is positioned to play a central role in meeting regional connectivity needs.

The initiative reflects ongoing efforts to expand digital infrastructure in Northern Europe, ensuring that the region can support growing requirements from cloud services, data centers and emerging technologies while providing secure, reliable connectivity across borders.