Over 60 Settlements in Yakutia to Gain High-Speed Connectivity
The large-scale ‘Synergy of the Arctic’ project aims to bring reliable, high-speed internet access to some of Russia’s most remote northern regions, improving the quality of life for thousands of people across Yakutia.
Bringing the Arctic Online
Eliminating digital inequality remains one of Russia’s key national priorities, with major resources directed toward providing reliable communication services in all regions regardless of geography. In recent years, particular focus has been placed on the country’s northernmost territories.
The new project, known as ‘Synergy of the Arctic,’ was recently launched to deliver high-speed connectivity to residents living within the Arctic zone of Yakutia. Republic Head Aisen Nikolaev described it as the largest telecommunications infrastructure initiative undertaken in Russia in recent years.
“Thousands of kilometers of fiber-optic lines will be built. Sixty-one settlements in Yakutia’s Arctic zone will be covered by the project. This represents a major step forward in improving the quality of life in the Arctic territories,” Nikolaev said.
Massive Investments and Tight Deadlines
Despite the scale and challenging conditions, project implementation is expected to proceed rapidly between 2026 and 2028. The total investment amounts to roughly $55 million, with half funded by the federal government.
The regional telecom operator ArcticTelecom will lead the effort. According to Nikolaev, the ‘Synergy of the Arctic’ project is vital not only for Yakutia but also for the Northern Sea Route and the broader northeast of the country. The initial phase will prioritize schools, rural health centers, and local administrative institutions.
Later stages will extend the network throughout the Arctic region, creating a robust digital foundation for social and economic development. The initiative enjoys strong backing from the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin. As Nikolaev emphasized, it “opens new perspectives for Yakutia’s integration into the federal digital ecosystem and elevates the region’s living standards to a fundamentally new level.”
Building the Digital Backbone of the Arctic
The successful rollout of ‘Synergy of the Arctic’ will provide stable communications to dozens of settlements and establish a foundation for future smart services — from telemedicine and remote education to industrial IoT and logistics optimization. This initiative strengthens Yakutia’s role as a key digital hub in the Arctic and supports wider industrial, transportation, and international cooperation efforts.
It also aligns with Russia’s Arctic Development Strategy through 2035, which aims to improve living conditions for over 2.5 million residents in northern regions. National telecom operators are actively engaged in this transformation. Rostelecom has already laid over 24,000 kilometers of fiber-optic lines in permafrost conditions, while its subsidiary RTComm operates more than 7,000 satellite stations in hard-to-reach areas across the Far North.
Unique Expertise, Global Potential
Russia’s telecom sector has accumulated deep expertise in constructing communication infrastructure under extreme Arctic conditions. These competencies could eventually become exportable, with Russian firms offering solutions to other countries facing similar connectivity challenges in remote territories.
‘Synergy of the Arctic’ will not mark the end of northern digitalization but rather its acceleration. Similar initiatives are expected to be deployed in other regions, ensuring that communications quality in the Arctic will soon rival that of southern Russia’s urban areas.
