Report: Russia could lay trans-Arctic undersea connection line

MOSCOW, Aug 24 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Digital Development Ministry is studying construction of a trans-Arctic undersea fiber optic connection line to provide all northern regions of the country with a high-speed Internet, Deputy Minister Oleg Ivanov said late on August 21 in an interview to project Digital Journalism.

“Of course, it’s important to examine the possibility of development of the trans-Arctic undersea fiber optic connection line for all northern regions. I think it’s a matter of the foreseeable future,” Ivanov said.

The minister said construction of an undersea line to Chukotka, in the country’s Far East, is being planned as it is the only region unconnected to the single electric power grid. Chukotka has only satellite Internet access, which is very expensive, but slow.

“Provision of the northern regions with fiber optic connection lines is goal number one,” Ivanov said.

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