Stavanger, Norway – 3 June 2026 – Midgard Infra, formerly Altibox Carrier and rebranded in April, is pleased to announce that the Verena programme has reached a major milestone with the start of marine survey operations for its new subsea fibre optic system linking the United Kingdom and Denmark.
Designed to support rapidly growing Nordic data traffic and rising international demand for secure, high-quality connectivity routes, the 630-kilometre cable system Verena is scheduled to be Ready for Service (RFS) in the fourth quarter of 2028.
The commencement of marine survey activities marks the transition from planning into delivery and represents a critical step in delivering a resilient and future-ready subsea cable system.
Survey activities will take place across summer 2026, enabling the programme to take advantage of the more favourable seasonal weather conditions.
Marine survey operations are essential to the successful design and installation of submarine infrastructure. Through advanced offshore data acquisition and seabed analysis, the survey provides the detailed understanding required to optimise cable routing and reduce delivery risk.
“The North Sea presents a complex operating environment, and high-quality survey data is fundamental to reducing risk before installation begins. The survey programme will provide the detailed seabed and route intelligence needed to support informed engineering decisions, optimise system design and ensure Verena is delivered to the highest standards of resilience and reliability.”
Espen Vestli, Chief Operating Officer, Midgard Infra
Survey data collected will enable the project team to:
- Identify the safest and most resilient route alignment.
- Understand seabed conditions and burial requirements to maximise long-term system protection.
- Safely manage interactions with existing offshore infrastructure including telecommunications cables, power assets and pipelines.
- Support environmental and regulatory approvals.
- Improve installation efficiency and reduce intervention requirements over the operational life of the system.
Delivery of the Verena programme is being led end-to-end by JTD Associates, whose programme leadership and delivery expertise continue to provide the governance, coordination and execution capability, instrumental to enabling this milestone and maintaining momentum toward service readiness in 2028.
“In subsea delivery, good decisions come from good data. The marine survey is our opportunity to learn everything we can about the route before we put a cable anywhere near the seabed.”
Diane Hill, Chief Delivery Officer, JTD Associates
Survey activities are being delivered in partnership with Pelagian Ltd acting as Engineering Consultants, and XOCEAN, utilising their fleet of advanced Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to conduct offshore data acquisition. The use of USVs supports a more sustainable approach to offshore data acquisition through lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and simplified offshore logistics compared with traditional survey operations.
The approach aligns with Midgard Infra’s commitment to delivering resilient digital infrastructure while supporting broader sustainability objectives.
“Verena is exactly the type of forward-looking infrastructure project that benefits from modern survey technology. Our USVs enable safe, efficient and environmentally responsible data collection, and we are proud to be supporting Midgard Infra and its partners as they take this important step towards delivering a major new North Sea connectivity asset.”
James Ives, Chief Executive Officer, XOCEAN
About Midgard Infra
Midgard Infra provides international connectivity and high-speed data services across the Nordics and Europe. The company operates the NO-UK subsea cable between Norway and the UK and the Skagen Fiber West cable between Norway and Denmark, supported by an extensive terrestrial network. Midgard Infra is also developing Verena, a new high-capacity subsea cable system between the UK and Denmark designed to strengthen digital resilience and meet the growing demands of hyperscalers and data-driven industries.
Co-owned by Lyse and HitecVision, Midgard Infra connects major data centre hubs across Northern Europe—including Hamburg, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Brussels, London, and Dublin—along with high-speed connectivity to the Americas via the Havfrue (AEC-2) trans-Atlantic cable. The network also includes one of the largest metro fibre systems in Oslo, providing robust and scalable infrastructure for global carriers, cloud providers, and enterprises.
About XOCEAN
XOCEAN is a global ocean data delivery partner, providing full scope geophysical, geotechnical and environmental data to support offshore developments and operations. By using a more efficient operating model, XOCEAN enables faster delivery, greater flexibility and more predictable outcomes than traditional survey methods.
The company transforms ocean data delivery through a digitally integrated operating platform that connects data acquisition, remote operations and processing into a single, scalable system. This allows data to be delivered quickly and consistently across a wide range of offshore environments.
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