Denmark-Sweden 17: A Short Cross-Border Submarine Cable
The Denmark-Sweden 17 submarine cable is a relatively short telecommunications link connecting Denmark and Sweden across the Øresund Strait. With a length of just 11 km, it is one of the shortest international submarine cables in operation. Owned jointly by TDC Group and Tele2, the system has been in service since 1994, according to GeoCables records. The cable lands at
Alsgarde in Denmark and
Kristinelund in Sweden, providing a direct connection between the two countries.
What makes Denmark-Sweden 17 particularly interesting is its role as part of a broader family of cables, including
Denmark-Sweden 18. While it is listed as in service, public information about its design capacity, fiber count, and technology is scarce. This lack of transparency is not unusual for older systems, but it does limit our ability to fully assess its technical specifications and current operational status.
Quick facts
| System Name |
Denmark-Sweden 17 |
| Length |
11 km |
| Ready for Service (RFS) Year |
1994 |
| Owners |
TDC Group, Tele2 |
| Status |
In service |
| Design Capacity |
Not disclosed |
| Fiber Pairs |
Not disclosed |
| Supplier |
Not disclosed |
| Technology |
Not disclosed |
| Landing Points |
Alsgarde (Denmark), Kristinelund (Sweden) |
| Related Systems |
Denmark-Sweden 18 |
🗺 Show Denmark-Sweden 17 on the interactive cable map
Route
Denmark-Sweden 17 spans the Øresund Strait, linking Alsgarde in Denmark to Kristinelund in Sweden. This corridor is geographically significant as it connects two closely situated nations with strong economic and cultural ties. The Øresund Strait is a narrow body of water, making it an ideal location for short submarine cable deployments. The cable's landings are positioned near urban areas with established telecommunications infrastructure, facilitating integration into broader national networks.
Why it was built and what it carries
Denmark-Sweden 17 was likely built to enhance cross-border connectivity between Denmark and Sweden, supporting both voice and data traffic. In the early 1990s, the demand for reliable international telecommunications links was growing, driven by increasing economic collaboration and the rise of digital communication. The cable's short length and direct route make it particularly suitable for low-latency applications. While specific traffic statistics are not publicly available, the cable likely carries a mix of commercial, governmental, and residential data.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records indicate that Denmark-Sweden 17 entered service in 1994. This date aligns with a period of rapid submarine cable expansion in Europe, as operators sought to modernize networks and improve international connectivity. No conflicting RFS dates have been identified in publicly available industry sources, lending credibility to the 1994 figure. However, details about its construction, supplier, and initial capacity remain undisclosed, which is not uncommon for systems of this age.
Capacity and technology
Publicly available information does not disclose the design capacity, number of fiber pairs, or specific technology used in Denmark-Sweden 17. Without operator documentation, attributing these characteristics would be speculative. Given its age, the cable likely employs older optical transmission technologies, which may have been upgraded over time to support higher data rates. However, the absence of technical details makes it impossible to confirm its current capabilities.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency over the 11 km wet segment of Denmark-Sweden 17 is approximately 0.1 milliseconds, assuming light travels through fiber at speeds between 200,000 and 204,000 km/s. The theoretical round-trip time (RTT) for the wet segment is also 0.1 milliseconds. However, real-world latency is higher due to additional factors such as land-based network tails, terminal equipment processing, and routing inefficiencies. No live measurements are currently available to verify the cable's actual performance.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a failure, traffic carried by Denmark-Sweden 17 could be rerouted through alternative systems, such as Denmark-Sweden 18. The presence of multiple cables in the Øresund Strait provides redundancy and ensures continued connectivity between Denmark and Sweden. Repairing a cable of this length would involve standard industry practices, including locating the fault, deploying a cable ship, and replacing or splicing the damaged section. Given its short length, repairs would likely be completed relatively quickly compared to longer transoceanic systems.
Bottom line
- Denmark-Sweden 17 is a short submarine cable connecting Denmark and Sweden across the Øresund Strait.
- It has been in service since 1994, according to GeoCables records.
- The cable is owned by TDC Group and Tele2.
- Public information about its design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology is not available.
- Its theoretical one-way latency over the wet segment is approximately 0.1 milliseconds.
- Redundancy is provided by related systems, such as Denmark-Sweden 18.