VodafoneThree explore new subsea fibre line between UK and Norway

Broadband and mobile giant VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK) has announced the launch of another feasibility study into the possibility of deploying a new high-speed subsea fibre optic cable, which could link Scotland with Shetland and then onwards to Norway. Research from WPI Strategy claims this could deliver £8.2bn in economic value over the next 10 years.

The idea of running a new subsea link between Scotland and Shetland is one that Vodafone has examined before. But clearly they now view it as being more viable to conduct this as part of a larger project that could also introduce an additional link into Europe via Norway.

Shetland is currently already connected by two major subsea fibre cables, including the SHEFA-2 (Faroese Telecom) link and the publicly funded R100 North cable that was recently built by broadband giant BT as part of the Scottish Government’s £600m Reaching 100% (R100) project (here). The R100 project also deployed a number of smaller subsea fibre links between mainland Shetland and its smaller islands.

However, a series of cable breaks over the past few years have shown how the above links aren’t always enough to deliver effective redundancy for Shetland, with both the island council and Scottish Government being keen to explore the development of an additional route. Not to mention the UK government’s desire to increase the protection of such infrastructure against sabotage.

According to WPI Strategy, VodafoneThree’s proposed link to Norway could protect up to £6.6m of UK economic activity for every day that disruption occurs on other routes.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP, said:

“Protecting our network of undersea cables is vital to keeping our country safe. Our adversaries are increasingly targeting our critical national infrastructure, including the cables that carry data and enable internet traffic and financial transactions.

This is a very welcome step that could not only improve connectivity and boost our economy, especially in Scotland, but strengthen the UK’s national resilience, prevent disruption, and keep us all safe.”

Nick Gliddon, Business Director of VodafoneThree, said:

“Reliable international connectivity is vital to the UK’s defence, strengthening our resilience to disruption and enhancing the security of the critical infrastructure on which our economy and public services depend. Norway is a strategically important partner, with a shared commitment to protecting infrastructure across the North Atlantic.

A new digital corridor would strengthen the physical links between our countries, add vital route diversity and support secure, resilient connectivity for critical infrastructure on both sides of the North Sea. It could also unlock investment in data centres and AI, creating skilled jobs and wider economic opportunities. This study will help establish the economic and strategic case for the route and identify the partnerships needed to deliver it.”

The new study, which is expected to begin in the summer of 2027, aims to identify potential routes from Shetland to Norway, as well as possible landing points and delivery partners in the Bergen region. Extending the route to Norway could improve connectivity for island communities and businesses, add resilience for Shetland Spaceport and other strategically important sites, and support future economic opportunities, including potential data-centre development.

We should point out that a separate subsea link to Norway is also being developed under the IOEMA Fibre project, albeit running from the South East of England.