Norwegian firm proposes $620M undersea cable to bypass US for Canada
Norwegian company Bulk has proposed the Leif Erikson project, a 2,800-mile undersea cable connecting Norway to Canada without traversing US territory. Valued at over $620 million, the initiative aims to enhance Canadian digital sovereignty amid strained US-Canada relations. The route links southern Norway to Newfoundland before extending inland to Montreal. Bulk seeks a Canadian majority partner to finance the high-capacity infrastructure designed for AI and telecommunications, offering an alternative to existing US-dependent data routes.
Key points
- Bulk, a Norwegian telecommunications firm, is proposing the Leif Erikson project, a 2,800-mile undersea cable that connects southern Norway directly to Canada while bypassing the United States entirely.
- The project, estimated to cost more than $620 million, requires a Canadian majority partner to finance the construction of the transatlantic link and its subsequent underground extension through Quebec to Montreal.
- The initiative is driven by worsening diplomatic and trade relations between Washington and Ottawa, which have prompted Canada to seek sovereign communication infrastructure independent of American territory.
- Bulk co-founder Peder Nærbø argues that the system will support high-capacity data transfers for artificial intelligence and large-scale computing, addressing perceived vulnerabilities in Canada's current reliance on US-based international data routes.
- The cable route terminates in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, before continuing via an underground path towards Montreal, creating a direct European-Canadian data corridor.
- The proposal positions the Leif Erikson cable as a strategic alternative for global data traffic, potentially reducing latency and geopolitical risk for European companies seeking direct access to North American markets.
Norwegian company Bulk has unveiled plans for the Leif Erikson project, a 2,800-mile undersea cable designed to connect Europe and Canada without passing through United States territory. The initiative emerges amid escalating tensions between Washington and Ottawa, which have led Canadian officials to explore alternatives to their current dependence on American infrastructure for international data connectivity. The proposed route links southern Norway with Newfoundland and Labrador, specifically targeting Happy Valley-Goose Bay, before transitioning to an underground path through Quebec towards Montreal.
The project is estimated to cost more than $620 million, and Bulk is currently seeking a Canadian majority partner to secure the necessary financing. Co-founder Peder Nærbø has framed the development as a cornerstone for a sovereign Canadian communications network, arguing that it will provide direct access to European infrastructure. The system is designed to handle high-capacity data transfers, catering to the growing demands of artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and large-scale computing operations.
Critics and supporters alike view the cable as a strategic response to geopolitical instability. By bypassing the US, the Leif Erikson link aims to enhance the resilience of Canada’s digital backbone. The proposal highlights a broader trend among nations to diversify data routes to mitigate risks associated with diplomatic friction and infrastructure bottlenecks.
Sources
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