N0r5ke Viking: A regional submarine cable network in Norway
The N0r5ke Viking is an 810-kilometer submarine cable system connecting multiple locations along Norway's western coastline. Owned by NOR5KE Fibre AS, it is listed as in service and was recorded as ready for service (RFS) in 2022 according to GeoCables data. This cable serves as a regional network, linking smaller coastal towns and cities to larger hubs such as
Bergen and
Trondheim, providing connectivity in a challenging geography dominated by fjords and mountainous terrain.
What stands out about the N0r5ke Viking is its extensive list of landing points, with 15 documented locations along Norway's coast. While its design capacity, fiber pair count, and supplier details are not publicly disclosed, the cable’s role in connecting remote areas of Norway is evident. The presence of other cables at Bergen and Trondheim, such as the
Eviny Digital,
N0r5ke Viking 2, and
Polar Circle Cable, suggests redundancy in these key hubs.
Quick facts
| Cable name | N0r5ke Viking |
| Length | 810 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 2022 (GeoCables database value) |
| Owner | NOR5KE Fibre AS |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Andalsnes, Bergen, Brekstad, Edøya, Florø, Åheim, Herlandsvika, Hitra, Hyllestad, Kristiansund, Lefdal, Ålesund, Molde, Sture, Tjeldbergodden, Trondheim (all in Norway) |
🗺 Show N0r5ke Viking on the interactive cable map
Route
The N0r5ke Viking connects 15 landing points along Norway's western coastline, including major cities such as Bergen and Trondheim as well as smaller towns like Florø, Åheim, and Edøya. This route traverses a rugged maritime corridor characterized by fjords, islands, and deep coastal waters. The cable's design likely reflects the need to navigate these geographical challenges while ensuring reliable connectivity for both urban and remote locations.
Why it was built and what it carries
The N0r5ke Viking was built to provide regional connectivity along Norway's western coast, linking smaller communities to larger urban centers. This is especially important in Norway, where the challenging geography can make terrestrial infrastructure difficult to deploy. While specific details about the cable's traffic or targeted use cases are not disclosed, it is reasonable to infer that it supports internet, data, and potentially enterprise services for local businesses and municipal entities. Its role in connecting remote areas aligns with Norway's broader focus on digital inclusion and resilience.
History: what can be established
GeoCables data records the N0r5ke Viking as ready for service in 2022. Publicly available sources do not provide alternative dates for its commissioning, nor do they clarify the timeline of its construction or deployment. As such, the 2022 RFS date is the most reliable information available. The cable's ownership by NOR5KE Fibre AS suggests it is part of a broader initiative to enhance Norway's regional telecommunications infrastructure.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity, fiber pair count, and supplier details for the N0r5ke Viking are not publicly disclosed. Without operator documentation, it is impossible to state these specifications with certainty. The cable's technology is similarly unspecified, though it most likely employs standard industry practices for modern submarine cables, such as dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) for high-bandwidth data transmission. However, attributing specific technologies without confirmation would be speculative.
Latency: the physics
Theoretical one-way light propagation over the 810-kilometer cable is approximately 4.0 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 7.9 milliseconds, assuming light travels at 200-204,000 kilometers per second in fiber. Real-world latency is higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing. Live measurements from remote probes, which capture the full internet path rather than the cable itself, show significantly higher RTTs. For example, Saint Petersburg to Edøya measures 37.0 milliseconds, while Sydney to Edøya measures 276.7 milliseconds. These values reflect the combined latency of the submarine cable, terrestrial networks, and internet routing.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
Redundancy for the N0r5ke Viking is supported by other cables in the region, including the Eviny Digital and N0r5ke Viking 2 at Bergen, and the Polar Circle Cable at Trondheim. If the cable were to experience a fault, traffic could potentially be rerouted via these alternative systems, minimizing disruption. Standard industry practices for submarine cable repair include deploying specialized cable ships to locate and fix the fault, which can take days to weeks depending on weather, location, and severity.
Bottom line
- The N0r5ke Viking is an 810-kilometer submarine cable connecting 15 landing points along Norway's western coast.
- Owned by NOR5KE Fibre AS, it was recorded as ready for service in 2022.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical RTT floor is 7.9 milliseconds, but real-world latency is higher due to additional network factors.
- Redundancy is supported by other cables in Bergen and Trondheim.