All key supply contracts for the cable have been signed, and installation is due to begin this summer with a ready for service date scheduled for November 2021.
Once operational the HAVSIL cable will be the shortest route connecting Norway to continental Europe, adding much-needed diversity by avoiding congested traditional fibre routes. It is also the first system that is fully financed, built and operated by Bulk Fiber Networks.
In June 2020, Telia Carrier signed up as the cable’s anchor customer and the Norwegian Communications Authority selected the HAVSIL cable to serve as its main fibre route between Norway and beyond.
“The HAVSIL cable adds much-needed diversity for the fibre routes to and from Norway and will be the shortest route connecting Norway to continental Europe,” said Merete Caubet, vice president of fiber networks at Bulk Infrastructure.
“This project also represents the first subsea cable project fully built, operated and financed by Bulk. We are very grateful to work with such professional partners as Fugro, NSW and Cecon to make this project come together.”
In January of this year, Geo-data specialist Fugro completed the marine survey for the cable system with their vessel Fugro Meridian.
NSW, part of Prysmian Group, will manufacture the 120km system in their Nordenham factory, with the final supply contract being awared to Cecon Contracting to perform the installation and marine operations for the system. Cecon Contracting have chartered Havila Phoenix to complete the offshore phase of the HAVSIL project this summer.
HAVSIL is an unrepeated, express route between Bulk’s data centre campuses N01 in Kristiansand and DK01 in Esbjerg. It will span Skagerrak, the strait separating the two nations, with 192 fibres fully buried on the seabed.