Subsea NEXUS Oslo, 26. June 2025

Norway's bold ambition to become an international hub for AI- and cloud infrastructure begs for more international connectivity. In this meeting we discuss the need for new fiber routes across the oceans, at the same time as we see an increase in geopolitical unrest across the globe.

This is a must-attend event for everyone involved in the digital infrastructure and datacenter space.

Program subject to change.

11:00 – 11:30: Coffee and Registration

11:30 –12:00:  Welcome and Introduction. Magnus Lutnæs, DLA Piper, Bjørn Rønning, NDI.

Session 1: Norway and the Arctic Perspective

12:00 – 12:15: Cables, Geopolitics and Arctic Routes. Lars Gjesvik, Senior Research Fellow at Norwegian Institute of Foreign Affairs.

12:15 – 12:35: Polar Connect: Pioneering a New Digital Highway Through the Arctic. Lisa Olsson, Project Coordinator North Pole Fiber and Polar Connect Step 1, SUNET.

12:35 – 12:55: Far North Fiber – the Northwest Passage Alternative. Ik Icard, CEO at Far North Digital.

12:55 – 13:10: Arctic Way - Connecting Svalbard and Jan Mayen to Mainland Norway. Jens Olav Frorud, CTO at Space Norway.

13:10 – 13: 30: The Hokkaido Submarine Cable Initiative. Nao Yanagawa, Flower Communications, Japan

13:30 – 13: 50: Break and Mingling

Session 2; Dual Use – Enabling Subsea Cables for Scientific and Monitoring Purposes

13:50 – 14:10: Observing the Arctic Ocean. Hanne Sagen, Researcher at Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC)

14:10 – 14:30: An Introduction to SMART Cables. Matt Fouch, PhD. President at Subsea Data Systems. 

14:30 – 15.10 Panel Session: In the Greater Geopolitical Perspective - Are the Arctic Projects Just a Pipe Dream?

A discussion on permitting issues, technology maturity, funding and commercial potential.

• Mike Conradi, International Telecoms and Digital Infrastructure lead at DLA Piper
• Lisa Olsson, SUNET
• Hanne Sagen, NERSC
• Matt Fouch PhD, Subsea Data Systems

15:10 -15:30: Break and Mingle

Session 3: How do we protect our subsea infrastructure assets?

15:30- 15:45: Norwegian Subsea Cable Association (NORSCA).Merete Caubet, Senior Vice President Fiber Networks – Strategy & Business Development

15:45 – 16:00: Tampnet/Altibox Carrier Joint Cooperation. Cato Lammenes, CEO Tampnet Carrier, Svein Arild Ims, CEO, Altibox Carrier

16:00– 16:10: Distributed Acoustic Sensing in Subsea Cable Systems. René Nijland, Sales Manager at Prysmian EOSS

16:10 – 16:25: Robust Nord-Norge. A Planned Festoon System for Northern Norway. Kjell-Ivar Hansen, CEO, KystTele.

16:25 – 16:40: IOEMA – The Continental Connection. Eckhard Bruckschen, CTO IOEMA 

16:40 – 17:15 Panel Session – The Outlooks for Norway in a Growing Datacentre Market: How Can We Keep Pace with the Growing Demand for International Connectivity?

• Mike Conradi, DLA Piper
• Cato Lammenes, Tampnet
• Svein Arild Ims, Altibox Carrier
• Merete Caubet, Bulk
• Kjell-Ivar Hansen, KystTele

17.15: Closing Remarks, Refreshments and Mingle

 18:00 Departure S/S Vega