GlobalConnect AB, a Swedish telecommunications company, has announced plans to develop a new fiber-optic cable connection linking Sweden, Estonia, and Finland. The project, which is expected to enter service in 2027, involves approximately 300 kilometers of subsea cable and 250 kilometers of terrestrial fiber in Estonia. The cable route will run from Gotland through Saaremaa and Hiiumaa islands, across mainland Estonia near Tallinn, and onward to Helsinki. This is a separate project from the existing Sweden-Aland-Finland cable, not an update to that route. The project combines island landings, a mainland crossing, and international submarine sections, making the terrestrial route an integral part of the connection. European Union support through the Connecting Europe Facility Digital program is part of the project’s financing, though Estonia is not contributing direct government funding. The ministry has supported efforts to obtain EU assistance and coordinate implementation. The additional route aims to strengthen regional connectivity and provide physical separation from existing links. Estonia currently has two communications connections with Sweden and six with Finland, according to ministry information. The project is also intended to accommodate growing data demand, though specific transmission capacity was not disclosed. Environmental surveys are underway, with marine survey permits already issued by Estonia’s Ministry of Climate. Applications for seabed-use rights and submarine cable construction permits are still under review. Preparations began in 2025, with installation work scheduled to continue into 2027. The 2027 service date remains a target, pending completion of survey work and permitting processes. The project addresses increasing concerns about damage to Baltic subsea infrastructure, which has heightened the importance of alternative paths for international communications during cable disruptions.