Russia starts operation to lay undersea fibre optic cable through Arctic

A vessel sails along a coast line as it lays undersea fiber optic communications cable near the village of Teriberka, on the Barents Sea, Russia August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

MURMANSK, Russia (Reuters) - Russia on Friday begins laying its first undersea fibre optic communications cable through the Arctic as part of a state-run project to bring high-speed internet to its remote hydrocarbon-rich north after a private-led initiative stalled.

Moscow is aiming to improve patchy communications and infrastructure in its far north where it has expanded its military presence and is developing the Northern Sea Route to become a major shipping lane.