VodafoneThree is studying a new subsea cable route between Scotland, Shetland and Norway. The project could strengthen digital links across the North Sea. It may also deliver major economic value for the UK.
The company says the route could create up to £8.2 billion in benefits. That estimate covers the next decade. It would add another path for data traffic between the UK and Norway.
This matters because today’s networks depend on limited physical routes. When one route fails, operators need fast alternatives. Without them, businesses, public services and users face disruption.
VodafoneThree says the cable could protect £6.6 million of UK economic activity each day. That figure applies during major disruption, when traffic cannot move elsewhere. For critical services, route diversity has become a strategic issue.
Shetland highlights the need clearly. Outages in 2022 and 2025 exposed the islands’ reliance on one cable system. A second route could improve resilience for residents, businesses and public bodies.
The project could also support northern Scotland’s growing digital economy. Better international links may attract data centre investment. They could also support AI workloads, cloud services and enterprise connectivity.
However, subsea projects demand careful planning. Operators must assess landing sites, seabed conditions and environmental impact. They also need commercial partners and long-term demand. Strong forecasts help, but cable economics require patient capital.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP welcomed the study and linked it to national security.
“Protecting our network of undersea cables is vital to keeping our country safe. Our adversaries are increasingly targeting our critical national infrastructure, including the cables that carry data and enable internet traffic and financial transactions.
“This is a very welcome step that could not only improve connectivity and boost our economy, especially in Scotland, but strengthen the UK’s national resilience, prevent disruption, and keep us all safe.”
VodafoneThree Business Director, Nick Gliddon, also stressed the defence and resilience angle.
“Reliable international connectivity is vital to the UK’s defence, strengthening our resilience to disruption and enhancing the security of the critical infrastructure on which our economy and public services depend. Norway is a strategically important partner, with a shared commitment to protecting infrastructure across the North Atlantic.
“A new digital corridor would strengthen the physical links between our countries, add vital route diversity and support secure, resilient connectivity for critical infrastructure on both sides of the North Sea.
“It could also unlock investment in data centres and AI, creating skilled jobs and wider economic opportunities. This study will help establish the economic and strategic case for the route and identify the partnerships needed to deliver it.”
The study will examine possible routes from mainland Scotland through Shetland to Norway. It will also review shore landing locations. Consultancy WPI Strategy carried out the economic research for Vodafone Business.
For telecoms planners, the message is clear. Subsea cables are no longer just capacity projects. They now sit at the centre of economic resilience, national security and digital growth.
