A new fibre-optic broadband link on the Swedish-Norwegian border

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The project has established a 41 kilometre-long fibre-optic-based broadband connection between Hattfjelldal in Norway and Joesjö in Sweden. Access to the Internet has therefore drastically improved, and alternative traffic routes (redundancy) and a more secure network have been created. This implementation is expected to have very positive effects on the development of these sparsely populated mountain areas.Rolf Wännström, Head of the Botnia – Atlantica Operational Programme secretariatKrutfjällslänken led to the creation of a new 41 km fibre-optic broadband connection linking the villages of Hattfjelldal in Norway and Joesjö in Sweden.The Hattfjelldal-Joesjö link was also connected with existing fibre-optic networks serving larger municipalities in both countries so as to create a high speed network covering the entire region.Enterprises in Västerbotten County, where Joesjö is situated, believe that expansion of broadband there over the last 10 years has brought great opportunities for business. On the other hand, in the district of Helgeland, which contains Hattfjelldal, broadband provision is more limited and development of the network is a priority.Under a previous project, a fibre-optic broadband connection was created between Hemavan in Sweden and Mo i Rana in Norway, but it lacks alternative Internet traffic routes or ‘redundancy’. Without redundancy, Internet supply is less secure and loss of Internet could have serious consequences for users such as businesses.More secure Internet supplyKrutfjällslänken was led by the local administration of Storuman, the municipality in which Joesjö is located, with Hattfjelldal municipality as a partner. Although Joesjö was already on the Västerbotten County fibre-optic network, the capacity of the connection between Joesjö and the town of Storuman had to be increased to cope with the higher levels of traffic resulting from the new connection with Hattfjelldal. This work was thus also part of the project.Internet access in the area has drastically improved, with redundancy ensuring secure supply from connections with places including Joeström, Hemavan, Umasjö, Klippen and Umfors on the Swedish side, and all municipalities in the inner Helgeland area on the Norwegian side. This has the potential to create positive effects.New opportunities for the private and public sectorsPrivate companies in the region now have more opportunities to enter new markets and expand their existing business. Public sector bodies have introduced new services such as e-health applications, which help to improve quality of life. In addition, the connection should foster further cross-border cooperation.Nordland County, of which Helgeland is part, has adopted a broadband development strategy within which capacity expansion and redundancy are priorities. There are ambitions to build an interurban network linking Mo i Rana, Finneidfjord, Korgen, Mosjoen and Trofors, with connections to Hemnesberget and Nesna. This will allow creation of further backup paths and even more secure supply for a large number of towns on both sides of the border.Total investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the project “Krutfjällslänken” is EUR 656 340, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 328 172 through the “Botnia - Atlantica” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period.