Norway mulls broadband coverage in Arctic

Reposted from News Daily

Norway may provide high-speed Internet in one of the few places on Earth where it's not available: the Arctic.

The Norwegian Space Center has teamed up with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting to assess the feasibility of a new satellite system covering northern areas outside the reach of current geostationary communications satellites.

Space center director Bo Andersen on Thursday told The Associated Press the system could be in place in the early 2020s if it gets the necessary funding from private and public sources. The estimated cost is 2 billion-4 billion kroner ($330 million-$650 million).

Demand for high-speed Internet in the Arctic is expected to grow as shipping, fishing and oil companies move north amid warming temperatures and melting ice. Last year, summer sea ice cover in the Arctic fell to the lowest extent on record.

Canada's space agency has been studying a similar system. Spokeswoman Melanie Beauchesne said the agency has completed feasibility studies but is still talking with potential public and private partners in Canada and abroad "to determine their level of interest and potential collaboration scenario to bring about the future realization of this mission."

This is the second recent announcement about wireless possibly being brought to a remote corner of the world; see last week's post about a wireless plan for Mount Everest here.

Norway mulls broadband coverage in Arctic, News Daily (July 11, 2013)