Europe Dumps US Internet Lines to Build Massive $119M Underwater Cable Straight to Greenland

Europe Dumps US Internet Lines to Build Massive $119M Underwater Cable Straight to Greenland

Europe is tired of sharing its internet lines with America, so it's building its own underwater shortcut. The European Union just dropped $119 million (€107 million) to put a brand-new, super-fast internet cable deep in the icy Arctic ocean floor. Running straight between Europe and Greenland, this giant wire completely cuts out US territory so American agencies can't snoop on European data or block their web traffic.

For more on how Europe is taking over its own tech, check out our breakdown of how Europe is freeing itself from American tech control.

Why Europe Is Avoiding American Waters

Almost all the big internet cables underwater run through American shores or US-controlled areas. That means the US gets to watch over global web traffic whenever it wants. But with tech arguments rising, European leaders decided they don't want to rely on US permission or risk someone cutting their cables in high-risk zones.

Instead, Europe is putting its wire through cold Arctic waters. That way, European text messages, TikTok streams, and gaming connections stay safe under European rules.

To see how international drama is changing tech, read our guide on the big split between US and European leaders.

Who is Involved in Building the New Arctic Cable

Here are the key people and teams building this icy internet highway:

• Kaja Kallas (EU Foreign Policy Chief pushing the new Arctic strategy)
• Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission President funding the project)
• Tusass A/S (Greenland’s internet company setting up local cable plugs)
• Cinia Oy (Finland’s ocean-cable building team laying down the fiber lines)
• NORDUnet (The Nordic team connecting schools and networks in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden)
• Key Groups: European Commission, Global Gateway Initiative, and the Nordic Internet Coalition.

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