The IOEMA Project: A new state-of-the-art Data Backbone will provide vital connectivity in the southern North Sea

At the Submarine Networks EMEA Conference in London, IOEMA Fibre Ltd. together 
with its landing partners launched its High-Capacity Data Backbone project for Northern Europe.

IOEMA is a state-of-the-art, high-capacity, 1400 km repeatered submarine fibre optic project that 
will arc across five key northern European markets – the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark 
and Norway supporting critical infrastructure security with full armouring and burial. 

The IOEMA cable system consists of a trunk route, connecting Dumpton Gap, UK with 
Kristiansand, Norway and three branches, connecting Eemshaven, The Netherlands; 
Wilhelmshaven, Germany; and Blaabjerg, Denmark. The cable connects with vital transatlantic 
crossings Havfrue (DK), Leif Erikson (NO) and other planned Trans-Atlantic cables. 

The IOEMA system will be the first submarine fibre optic cable landing on the North Sea shores 
of Germany in over 25 years. After decommissioning of TAT-14, SEA-ME-WE 3 and others, the 
IOEMA submarine fibre optic cable system will be the only cable system connecting Germany to 
the submarine cable networks in the North Sea and beyond. 
With implementing the latest technology, this 48-fibre pair system will support a minimum overall 
capacity of 1.3 Pb/s.

IOEMA Cable system

IOEMA bridges core European markets with the Nordics where Bulk Fibre Networks is acting as a 
landing party in Norway, facilitating the connectivity to the N01 Data Centre, North of 
Kristiansand, and further towards Oslo.

IOEMA has selected Arelion as the provider of the infrastructure on the shores of Denmark and 
space in the ex-TAT-14 cable landing station, as well as further connectivity towards Esbjerg and 
Copenhagen, via their extensive network.

EWE TEL GmbH and Relined Fiber Network are joint landing partners in Germany, where the 
IOEMA cable system will terminate at a business park close to Wilhelmshaven, the new energy 
and transportation hub in the North of Germany. Both companies will provide backhaul routes to 
Hamburg, Berlin and beyond. 

Eurofiber together with QTS are the landing parties in Eemshaven, The Netherlands, reusing the 
existing infrastructure of the former TGN Northern Europe cable, terminating in the DC01 of QTS 
in Eemshaven. Eurofiber will provide backhaul connectivity to Groningen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, 
etc. via their fiber network.

Colt Technology Services will accommodate the IOEMA Fibre System at their landing point in 
Dumpton Gap (i.e. Tangerine & PEC) and in their CLS Broadstairs. Backhaul towards all important 
data centre and Telehouse locations in Greater London are being connected seamlessly. 

“By increasing capacity, performance, and resilience across Northern Europe, the IOEMA project 
will have a profound impact on digital connectivity for this region and beyond. We’re excited and 
honoured to be playing a key role in bringing this ambitious vision to reality,” said Annette Murphy, 
Chief Commercial Officer, Colt Technology Services. 

“We are excited to partner with QTS and IOEMA Fiber Ltd. in this valuable project, which meets 
the growing need for backhaul capacity, and underlines the key position of Eemshaven as junction 
between the Nordics and Western Europe.” – Rhoderick van der Wyck, Managing Director 
International Business at Eurofiber.

“QTS is pleased to play a role in the IOEMA project, underscoring our support of strengthening 
connectivity across Europe. Our data centers are a critical part of the region’s infrastructure, and 
this project will bolster the capabilities of our services while reinforcing our ability to meet growing 
demand. We appreciate the partnership and work of all who are contributing to the success of 
this undertaking.” – Kees Loer, Vice President, Facilities Operations – Property Engineering 
(Europe) at QTS Data Centers.

“We’re proud to have been selected as landing party and connectivity provider for the IOEMA 
project. As the world’s number one ranked Internet backbone, we look forward to support 
increased network capacity and diversity through the project, regionally and internationally.” – 
Mattias Fridström, VP & Chief Evangelist, Arelion.

“Being a landing partner for this key project aligns well with our vision of enabling strategically 
diversified, sustainable connectivity into the Nordics. Bulk has a strong track-record of complex 
fiber projects, and we look forward to supporting the IOEMA Project meeting the demand for more 
critical, diverse infrastructure,” - Merete Caubet, VP Bulk Fiber Networks.

“After 5 years of development and observing the market in Northern Europe, it became evident 
that diverse routes are needed to provide the redundancy for the increasing data demand in the 
Nordics. We are proud to start this project together with our landing partners and provide further 
connectivity across Europe and beyond.” - Eckhard Bruckschen, CTO of IOEMA Fibre Ltd.

About IOEMA Fibre Ltd. 
The project company, IOEMA Fibre Ltd., was, after 4 years of project development, founded in 
2023. IOEMA is a state-of-the-art, high-capacity, 1400 km repeatered submarine fibre optic 
project that will arc across five key northern European markets – the UK, Netherlands, Germany, 
Denmark and Norway. The multicore 48-fibre pair system will support a minimum overall capacity 
of 1.3 Pb/s. 
www.ioemafibre.eu