Sweden is set to embark on an ambitious project to lay a data cable under the polar ice cap, linking Asia and North America. The cable, estimated to cost over 21 billion Swedish Krona (approximately 2 billion euros), is designed to enhance the security of internet infrastructure as it will be situated deep beneath the ocean floor, less vulnerable to potential disruptions compared to traditional routes. This initiative has been underscored by Swedish Civil Minister Erik Slottner, who emphasizes the cable's critical importance for Sweden's national infrastructure.

Most internet traffic between continents is carried by submarine cables, and the typical route from Europe to Asia passes through the Suez Canal. The proposed cable will run from Kiruna in Sweden to Norway's coast and from there to the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Located approximately 4,000 meters deep under the Arctic sea, the new route is projected to be significantly shorter, about 10,500 kilometers, than existing alternatives – a factor that could greatly enhance data transmission efficiency and security.

The project, led by Sweden's governmental research institute Vetenskapsrådet, represents a forward-thinking approach to infrastructure development, reflecting the increasing need for secure and efficient communication channels in an era of heightened digital vulnerability. By securing data transmission routes directly through the polar region, Sweden aims not just to innovate but also to safeguard national interests in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.