Germany to Reconnect with North Sea Nations via New IOEMA Submarine Cable
Plans are underway to establish a new submarine cable system named IOEMA, designed to strengthen digital connectivity between Germany and several North Sea neighboring countries. This infrastructure initiative aims to address growing demands for data security and high-speed transmission, while simultaneously reinforcing the resilience of Europe's digital backbone.
The IOEMA project, spearheaded by a UK-based project management company, envisions a 1,620-kilometer fiber optic cable network. The system is slated to link the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and Norway, with a potential extension to France currently under review. Germany's connection point is planned for Wilhelmshaven in Lower Saxony, marking the country's first direct landing of an internet submarine cable since the decommissioning of TAT-14 in 2020. Previous subsea cables served Germany via other entry points along the North Sea coast.
To enhance the protection of this critical infrastructure, the IOEMA cable is set to be installed at an average depth of 1.5 meters beneath the seabed. In areas closer to shore, this depth may increase to up to 3 meters. The entire system will be fully armored, with additional reinforcement in coastal sections to minimize risks posed by fishing activities, ship anchors, and other maritime hazards. The route has been strategically chosen to run parallel to the coastline, enabling more effective monitoring and surveillance, especially in regions where ship traffic--both legitimate and potentially unregistered--can be closely observed.
Technically, the IOEMA system plans to utilize 24 fiber pairs, each capable of managing data rates of at least 37 terabits per second. Collectively, the network could support transmission speeds up to one petabit per second, addressing the need for high-capacity and low-latency data transfer between northern European nations. The cable will connect a total of seven landing stations: Leiston and Dumpton Gap in the UK, Eemshaven and The Hague in the Netherlands, Wilhelmshaven in Germany, Blaabjerg in Denmark, and Kristiansand in Norway. The possible addition of a French landing site at Saint-Valery-en-Caux is being considered for future expansion.
The cable system will be equipped with repeaters at intervals of 70 to 80 kilometers, depending on the final manufacturing partner. These repeaters will integrate advanced sensors for detecting seismic activity, temperature fluctuations, and physical movement along the cable route. Such monitoring capabilities not only enhance the overall security of the infrastructure but can also provide valuable scientific data for environmental and geophysical research.
IOEMA's planned path will intersect with over 90 existing fiber optic cables, power lines, and pipelines, requiring coordinated efforts to ensure safe crossings. Security remains a primary focus throughout the project, aligning with recent European Commission reports emphasizing the need for robust oversight of critical submarine cable corridors. The cable's coastal route offers an additional layer of security by facilitating more consistent monitoring, particularly in areas where untracked vessels could pose risks.
Currently, the project is in the pre-sales phase, with further development contingent on securing commitments for at least 25 percent of the cable's total data capacity. The competitive landscape for submarine cables is dominated by major technology firms, yet IOEMA's focus on security and regional resilience is expected to appeal to both public and private sector stakeholders seeking to enhance Europe's digital sovereignty.
If pre-sales targets are met, agreements for cable installation could be finalized by early 2026, allowing the system to become operational by 2029. The project team has submitted applications for support through the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program, and technical specifications are currently being prepared.
Once operational, IOEMA is projected to reduce network latency by up to 5.5 milliseconds on select routes, improve redundancy across northern Europe, and facilitate more robust connections between the continent and Scandinavia, where the demand for data center capacity is rising due to the availability of renewable energy resources. The new cable aims to bridge gaps left by older systems, contributing to the overall security and efficiency of Europe's digital infrastructure.