Canada is actively exploring alternative international data routes as diplomatic relations with Washington face strain, turning its attention toward a massive new transatlantic infrastructure project. Norwegian telecommunications and digital infrastructure company Bulk has proposed a 2,800-mile undersea cable designed to link southern Norway directly to Newfoundland and Labrador, completely circumventing American territory.
Dubbed the Leif Erikson project, the proposed connection carries an estimated price tag exceeding $620 million. From its landfall in Canada, the route would stretch toward Happy Valley-Goose Bay before utilizing an underground path through Quebec toward Montreal. This ambitious overland and underwater blueprint requires extensive new construction across Canadian territory, including vital coordination with Indigenous communities along the planned path.
Bulk co-founder Peder Nærbø has pitched the initiative as a cornerstone for Canadian sovereign communications. Proponents argue that relying heavily on existing connections running through the United States leaves Canadian digital infrastructure vulnerable to external disruptions. The proposed high-capacity link aims to support heavy data transfers required for modern artificial intelligence workloads, telecommunications, and large-scale computing operations.
Despite spending roughly five years laying groundwork for the project, the development faces significant hurdles. Bulk is currently seeking a Canadian majority partner to help finance and drive the initiative forward, even though the company already maintains deep Canadian financial ties through existing investments from pension funds and Sun Life Financial. Regulatory approvals from both Canadian and European authorities, alongside finalized route agreements, remain mandatory before any physical construction can begin.
New 2,800-Mile Undersea Cable Pushes to Connect Canada and Europe
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