The Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) serves as a hub for experts, businesses, and organizations involved in global telecommunications and technology. PTC’s annual conference, held in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, gathers leaders to discuss the latest advancements in undersea cable networks, regional connectivity, and the future of global communications infrastructure.
As part of this year’s event, NORDUnet, in collaboration with the Polar Connect, has been actively engaging with stakeholders to explore innovative solutions for Arctic connectivity. These efforts emphasize extending high-speed undersea cable networks into the Arctic region, facilitating critical links between continents and supporting research, education, and commercial activities in some of the world’s most remote locations.
Our journey to PTC began with the Tenth Annual 2025 Hawai‘i Workshop on Trans-Pacific Research & Education (TPRE), held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the University of Hawai‘i’s Information Technology Center in Honolulu. This full-day meeting brought together leaders and innovators to advance trans-Pacific research and education networks. Highlights included updates from various organizations, a presentation on Google’s Pacific Initiatives by David Robles and Andy Lumsden, and forward-looking discussions on critical topics such as next-decade planning, research drivers, resilience, security, and emerging technologies like LEOSat systems. The workshop also highlighted ongoing collaborations, including advancements in the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) and polar connectivity developments.
Following the workshop, the Submarine Poster Session took place on Sunday, January 19, 2025, featuring a standout poster titled “Arctic Connectivity: Linking Continents with a New Route“, presented by Jørgen Qvist of NORDUnet. This presentation highlighted innovative strategies for extending connectivity through the Arctic, offering a new perspective on global network infrastructure.
The event continued with the PTC25 Submarine Cable Panel, titled “Around the World Update“, providing insights into the advancements and challenges of undersea cable networks, with presentation by
- Steve Arsenault – Vice President, Sales & Marketing at IT International Telecom Inc.
- Virginie Frouin – Chief Business Officer at BW DIGITAL.
- Sarah McComb – Global Network Planning & Acquisitions, APAC, Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- Per Nihlén – Chief Technology Officer, Sunet, Swedish Research Council.
- Panagiota Samara – Head of International Business Development at Grid Telecom Greece.
The updates focused on regional extensions that connect the world’s most remote areas, a critical area of growth for global connectivity.
The three days of the conference offered NORDUnet extensive opportunities to meet with key stakeholders, including representatives from Norway, Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands, as well as industry leaders such as Alcatel Submarine Networks, NII/SINET, WIDE Project, NEC, Subsea Data Systems, Bulk Infrastructure, NTT, and Tampnet. These interactions provides a forum to discuss collaboration opportunities and investments in pioneering efforts such as the Polar Connect and North Pole Fibre initiatives.
Polar Connect and the North Pole Fibre
A key topic during the panel and stakeholder meetings was Polar Connect and the North Pole Fibre, which seeks to extend undersea cable networks into the Arctic region. This initiative aims to link some of the most isolated areas of the globe, providing critical connectivity for research, education, and commerce.
