The new Nordic route is now ready for service and creates the shortest path between Norway and continental Europe. In 2020, the system was selected by the Norwegian Communications Authority as the new secure fibre system for the nation’s international data traffic.
Spanning 120km in length, the 96-fibre-pair (192 fibres) cable more than doubles the total capacity in existing subsea cable systems that connect into Norway.
“The HAVSIL system is the new express route between Norway and continental Europe, offering the shortest high-capacity route in a sustainable way,” said Inger Gløersen Folkeson, EVP of fibre networks and COO of Bulk Infrastructure Group.
“Bulk continues to invest in high-value connectivity options needed by OTT networks, hyperscalers, enterprises and carriers to meet increasing data growth and to unlock the business potential of the Nordics.”
Arelion (formerly Telia Carrier) signed as an anchor tenant for the system and as such will be first to transit international data and services over the new route. The system connects data centre to data centre from Bulk’s ultra-scalable N01 Campus in Kristiansand to Bulk’s DK01 Campus in Esbjerg.
Powered by renewable energy, this data centre to data centre design simplifies connection and increases reliability. Overall, the Havsil system is comprised of a subsea branch from Kristiansand to Hanstholm and a terrestrial segment connecting to Esbjerg.
This express route that Havsil uses reduces latency and creates a diverse path to the longer and more congested legacy routes currently in use.
In addition, the new fibre route runs along the west coast of Denmark and had to be drilled 40 meters under the seabed of the Thyborøn Canal.
The construction of subsea branch of the Havsil system was confirmed in September 2021.
