Norfest

Overview

Norfest is a regional submarine cable spanning 749 km, designed to enhance connectivity between Norway and Sweden. Completed and ready for service in 2023, the cable forms a critical part of the telecommunications infrastructure in the region. Its primary function is to provide high-speed, low-latency fiber-optic communication across multiple landing points in the two countries. This system supports both local and international data traffic, strengthening the digital resilience and capacity of the communities it serves. Our measurements show that the cable achieves a best round-trip time (RTT) of 23 milliseconds and an average RTT of 26 milliseconds, indicating its efficiency in transmitting data across its route.

Route and Landings

The Norfest cable connects ten landing points, nine of which are located in Norway and one in Sweden. In Norway, the cable lands at Arendal, Drøbak, Egersund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Lista, Moss, Oslo, and Stavanger. The Swedish landing point is Capri Strand. The cable traverses the Skagerrak Strait, a key maritime passage separating the southern coast of Norway from the western coast of Sweden. This route ensures direct connectivity between the two nations, bypassing the need for longer terrestrial or alternative submarine routes.

Norway’s landing points are strategically distributed along its southern coastline, covering both urban centers like Oslo and Stavanger and smaller towns such as Lista and Larvik. This distribution ensures robust local connectivity while supporting international data traffic. Capri Strand in Sweden serves as an important endpoint, linking the cable to Sweden’s extensive domestic and international networks. The route's design reflects the importance of connecting major population centers and industrial hubs in both countries, ensuring reliable and high-speed internet access for businesses and residents.

Ownership and History

Norfest is owned and operated by Tampnet, a company known for its focus on high-capacity connectivity solutions in the Nordic region. The cable was officially ready for service in 2023, marking a significant milestone in regional telecommunications infrastructure. Tampnet’s ownership of Norfest aligns with its broader strategy of enhancing connectivity between Norway and Sweden, two countries with strong economic and technological ties. This cable complements Tampnet’s existing network assets, further solidifying its role as a key player in the Nordic telecommunications sector.

The development of Norfest reflects the growing demand for high-speed, reliable internet services in the region. Norway and Sweden, both leaders in digital innovation, benefit from the cable’s ability to support increased data traffic and provide redundancy for existing systems. The inclusion of multiple landing points in Norway highlights the strategic importance of ensuring connectivity across diverse geographic locations, while the single landing point in Sweden underscores the focus on direct international links.

What Our Measurements Show

Our live monitoring of Norfest reveals that the cable operates across 55 measured corridors, achieving a best round-trip time (RTT) of 23 milliseconds and an average RTT of 26 milliseconds. These metrics indicate the cable’s efficiency in handling data transmission, making it suitable for applications requiring low latency, such as cloud computing and real-time communications. The consistent performance across corridors suggests that the cable's design and implementation meet high standards of reliability and speed.

The Skagerrak Strait, a key segment of the cable’s route, poses unique challenges due to its depth and maritime traffic. However, Norfest’s engineering ensures stable operation across this critical passage. The cable’s performance supports the growing demand for bandwidth in the region, particularly in Norway’s coastal cities and Sweden’s western areas. By providing low-latency connectivity, Norfest strengthens the digital infrastructure of both nations, enabling faster access to global data centers and services.