Report on the 9th ArCS II International Relations Seminar “Political economy of the Arctic submarine fiber-optic cables”
Juha Saunavaara (Hokkaido University)
Related Research Program: International Relations
On June 19, 2023, the ArCS II Research Program on International Relations convened the 9th ArCS II International Relations Seminar approaching the Arctic submarine fiber-optic cables from the perspective of political economy.
This seminar consisted of presentations from Hokkaido University Emeritus Professor Tsuyoshi Yamamoto and Arteria Networks Director, CCO Daisuke Arita as well as discussion moderated by Hokkaido University Associate Professor Juha Saunavaara.
Due to the last-minute change, Professor Yamamoto could not join the event in person. However, his recorded talk introduced the past and ongoing relations between the different Arctic submarine data cable projects and Hokkaido/Japan.
Besides focusing on the ongoing Far North Fiber project, in which Arteria Networks is contributing as the Japanese partner, Director Arita’s speech elaborated the reasons why the Arctic Ocean is attracting unforeseen interest within the submarine cable industry.
The opening words on behalf of the moderator and the discussion that followed the presentations touched upon issues such as the relationship between cable industry and governments, and collaboration between various companies involved in large-scale multinational projects. Furthermore, the impacts of the recent international turbulence on submarine fiber-optic cable industry and the importance of connectivity and access to broadband even in remote Arctic areas were discussed.