Reliable satellite connectivity, even in the harshest winter conditions.

Expanding Remote Satellite Internet Access Across Greenland

Greenland's vast, frozen and mountainous terrain poses a highly complex connectivity challenge to national postal and telecommunications company Tusass. In 2025, Tusass signed a strategic partnership with Eutelsat to connect strategic sites on the ground to a resilient, low-latency communications network powered by the OneWeb low Earth orbit satellite system. Sites include critical infrastructure, maritime operations, emergency response and community broadband. 

The Challenge - Connectivity Strategy For A Unique Landscape

Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and a mountainous island three times the size of Texas that is mostly buried under an ice sheet. Many of its small communities scattered along the coast are hard to connect due to the combination of extreme weather and harsh terrain. These conditions make a fibre network too costly to install and maintain, while legacy geostationary satellite systems located above the equator struggle to provide optimal service this far north.

The Need - Agile Network Services For Fast-Changing Demands 

Local, low-latency, high-speed broadband communications are vital to Greenland’s increasingly international profile as well as to the distribution and delivery of critical services such as healthcare and economic development for its population. As an overseas country and territory of the EU, the government also receives funding from the European Union (EU) towards sustainable development, with a particular focus on education. Climate change scientists monitoring the island’s ecosystem are reliant on fresh data to determine what the ice melt that is occurring means for the rest of the world. Southern neighbours Canada and the US as well as Dennark and the EU both require reliable communications on the ground to maintain their strategic presence there.  In 2026 Canada announced plans to open a new consulate in the capital Nuuk. Offshore, Greenland’s maritime industry is it’s largest. Fishing accounts for more than 90% of exports. As climate change shrinks the ice sheet new shipping routes are opening up that need connectivity for strategic and commercial applications.

The Solution - LEO Partnership And Robust Installations

In 2025, Tusass expanded its partnership with Eutelsat to deploy LEO connectivity and deliver secure and resilient communications across the country’s vast and remote territory. The deployment supports Tusass in delivering on its strategic objectives for digital inclusion, infrastructure integration, and sovereign capacity across Greenland. The partnership ensures:

  • OneWeb LEO services: Eutelsat’s polar-orbiting satellite communications system offers low-latency, high-speed connectivity for Tusass services everywhere
  • Arctic-ready hardware: Ruggedised terminals and ground equipment are designed to withstand extreme cold, snow and wind
  • Hybrid network: LEO services complement Tusass's own fibre backbone and microwave infrastructure, to create a more resilient service and product portfolio
  • Portable and mobile capabilities: Approved hardware is equipped to support emergency response, maritime operations and remote access communications on-the-move as well as fixed

The Impact

Eutelsat's OneWeb LEO network has strengthened connectivity in some of Greenland's most challenging environments:

  • Enhanced emergency response: Faster, more reliable communications enable coordinated disaster response and secure data exchange
  • Improved maritime connectivity: Fishing fleets and coastal communities benefit from consistent broadband access
  • Digital inclusion: Remote schools, health centres and public facilities now access cloud applications and telemedicine platforms

Greenland presents one of the world’s most complex connectivity challenges. By partnering with Eutelsat and its OneWeb LEO solution, we are strengthening our ability to meet the needs of our people and institutions.

Toke Binzer

Tusass CEO

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What effect does satellite internet for remote areas have on public services in Greenland?

  • Satellite connectivity enables reliable broadband access for healthcare, education, emergency services and government operations across remote Greenland communities where terrestrial networks are impractical. Eutelsat's OneWeb LEO technology provides low-latency performance that supports real-time applications—telemedicine consultations, online learning platforms and emergency coordination. For public sector IT directors, this means continuity of essential services even in harsh Arctic conditions, with the responsiveness required for cloud-based workflows and video conferencing. The satellite service integrates with existing fibre and microwave infrastructure, creating a resilient hybrid network.

Is there a portable satellite internet solution for Arctic conditions?

  • The equipment operates reliably in sub-zero temperatures, high winds and challenging field conditions—Eutelsat's OneWeb LEO solution uses approved hardware specifically designed to withstand extreme Arctic environments, supporting portable and mobile deployments for emergency response, maritime operations and remote community access. The equipment operates reliably in sub-zero temperatures, high winds and challenging field conditions—essential for first responders requiring rapid deployment without extensive site preparation. Portable terminals can be set up quickly at evacuation centres, temporary command posts or isolated settlements, providing secure, low-latency connectivity when terrestrial networks fail. This operational flexibility ensures critical communications remain available during disasters or infrastructure buildouts in remote areas.

Why was a LEO satellite solution chosen over traditional connectivity?

  • Greenland's extreme latitude and rugged terrain make traditional geostationary satellite and terrestrial solutions challenging. Geostationary satellites orbit at approximately 35,786 kilometres, resulting in latency of 600 milliseconds or more—unsuitable for real-time applications. LEO satellites orbit much closer to Earth (around 1,200 kilometres for OneWeb), delivering latency comparable to terrestrial broadband. The hybrid model with Tusass leverages existing fibre backbone alongside LEO capacity, ensuring communities beyond submarine cable reach benefit from responsive, high-capacity connectivity. This approach provides the resilience required for mission-critical public services and emergency coordination.

How does Eutelsat ensure reliable connectivity in extreme environments?

  • Eutelsat's multi-orbit network combines GEO and LEO capabilities to provide resilience and continuous coverage across the Arctic. Hardware is ruggedised for extreme conditions, meeting the operational demands of government and emergency service users. The partnership with Tusass ensures local expertise and operational support, enabling rapid deployment and service management tailored to Greenland's unique geography and regulatory requirements. Network resilience features—including automatic failover and 24/7 monitoring—guarantee critical communications remain online even when individual network paths are disrupted.

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