Head of the Finnmark county administration, Runar Sjåstad, says to newspaper Sør-Varanger Avis that there is a major interest both on Norwegian and Russian side in the broadband project. He now hopes to quickly establish a joint working group, to help elaborate on possibilities.
The regional leader still maintains that the issue will have to be carefully elaborated on both from a political, legal and security perspective. A request has already been sent to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.
While the Russians have laid broadband cables to the border town of Nikel, the Norwegians have cables stretched to Kirkenes. Regional colleges, hospitals and business now welcome the cross-border cable plans.
After a major broadband development the last years, the northernmost Finnmark County today has the newest and best fiber broadband in Norway. According to the county administration, all major settlements in the region are now offered access to the high-speed cable.
The border towns of Kirkenes and Nikel are engaging increasingly in cross-border cooperation. Together with their respective countries’ foreign ministries, the municipalities are working for the establishment of visa-free travel for local inhabitants and the development of twin city cooperation.
