EU to invest in satellite internet for Greenland’s remote regions

A satellite link backed by European Union funding is set to improve internet access in Greenland’s remote eastern and northern regions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed the agreement on Monday during a visit to Eutelsat OneWeb Satellite near Nuuk, alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic government leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

The agreement is expected to direct about 9.1 million euros in EU funding to satellite-based internet over five years. Denmark will co-finance the project with 15 million kroner. The funding forms part of a wider package of EU investments that von der Leyen was expected to announce during her visit. The Financial Times has previously reported that the overall package could total 200 million euros, or about 1.5 billion kroner.

The satellite project is only a small part of that investment, but it could have one of the most direct effects on Greenland’s population. Internet service is strong in Nuuk and nearby areas, while conditions are different in the north and east. Those remote settlements currently rely on a radio link, a chain of transmitters and receivers placed on mountains and ridges along the coast.

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We expect it to increase internet speeds from 6 megabits to 15 megabits. That means you can stream normally.

Jonas Hasselriis, chief executive of Greenland’s national telecommunications and postal company Tusass, said the investment should improve both everyday service and resilience. “We expect it to increase internet speeds from 6 megabits to 15 megabits. That means you can stream normally,” he said.

The satellite connection will also provide an additional route to remote settlements if the radio link fails. “If the radio link breaks, the towns and settlements disappear, so we will increase security of supply,” Hasselriis said. He added that faster service would be the most important benefit for ordinary customers. Von der Leyen, Frederiksen and Nielsen did not comment after the signing. They were due to hold a press conference later Monday to present a joint statement on cooperation between Greenland, the EU and Denmark, along with the remaining EU investments.

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If the radio link breaks, the towns and settlements disappear, so we will increase security of supply.