Space Norway has signed a contract with Forsvarsbygg (the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency) for support in constructing a cable landing station on Jan Mayen. In addition, Forsvarsbygg will assist with the transport of personnel and equipment to the island, as well as with all excavation works. The landing station is a key element of the Arctic Way subsea fibre-optic connection from mainland Norway to Jan Mayen and Svalbard.
Forsvarsbygg is already in the process of constructing a new station for the Norwegian Armed Forces on Jan Mayen. Forsvarsbygg’s contractor, Hæhre Arctic, will support Space Norway with the cable landing station while they are present on the island.
Securing connectivity in Northern Norway
“We see significant synergies in carrying out this work now, while Hæhre and Forsvarsbygg are on site. Without them, the project would have been far more expensive and difficult to implement. Our open dialogue and solution-oriented co-operation with Forsvarsbygg is crucial to making this possible,” says Pia Bruhn, Project Manager for Arctic Way at Space Norway.
Arctic Way is a new digital infrastructure project, set to extend high-speed fiber connectivity deeper into the polar north than ever before and will replace the ageing Svalbard cable system, linking mainland Bodø, Jan Mayen, and Longyearbyen before the current infrastructure’s technical lifespan ends in 2028.
Pressing security, militarization and sovereignty concerns are driving the development of regional Arctic undersea cables. For both Norway and Greenland, recent moves to overhaul digital infrastructure reveal a shift toward digital sovereignty, where state control over Arctic fiber cables is prioritised over commercial profit.
Unique location
Forsvarsbygg’s construction project is one of the most complex currently under way in Norway. Jan Mayen is located one thousand kilometres from the mainland and is exposed to extremely harsh weather conditions. Everything that is built there must withstand snowstorms, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. There is no harbour, quay infrastructure or proper roads. At present, there is also no subsea fibre-optic connection to Jan Mayen, and communication with the island is via satellite.
“For Space Norway, it has been important to coordinate the landing of Arctic Way on Jan Mayen with Forsvarsbygg’s construction project. The island’s unique location presents major logistical challenges, and it is therefore very encouraging to see that the cooperation with Forsvarsbygg is working so well,” says Morten Tengs, CEO of Space Norway.
“We are proud of our project on Jan Mayen. It is important for Norway. We are pleased that we can support and collaborate with Space Norway,” says Camilla Mathiesen, Acting Director of Forsvarsbygg.
All contracting works must be completed before the subsea fibre-optic cable arrives for installation in the summer of 2027.
Pictured: Camilla Mathiesen, Acting Director of Forsvarsbygg, and Morten Tengs, CEO of Space Norway.
