Greenland Speed Test - Check TUSASS Internet Performance

Cable Broadband

Greenland Connect is the primary submarine cable system connecting Greenland to global internet. Operational since 2009 and owned by TUSASS, the cable runs from Newfoundland to Nuuk to Qaqortoq and continues to Iceland.

Fiber Broadband

Greenland Connect North extended the system 680 kilometers north from Nuuk to Aasiaat in December 2017, providing fiber connectivity to Maniitsoq and Sisimiut along the way. The next major expansion is TUSASS Connect Vision, a submarine cable along the southwest coast from Qaqortoq to Aasiaat.

Cable Broadband

The European Commission granted 20.6 million euros in December 2024 under the Connecting Europe Facility to fund this extension. From Aasiaat north to Qasigiannguit and Ilulissat, TUSASS is building a high-capacity radio chain to extend broadband without submarine cable.

DSL and Copper

VDSL over copper reaches 30 Mbps in towns connected by submarine cable. This technology serves areas where fiber-to-the-home deployment is not yet justified by population density.

Mobile Networks

5G Fixed Wireless Access launched in Nuuk in 2024 and expanded to Sisimiut, Ilulissat, and additional cities in 2025. The service delivers 80 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload at the highest tier, operating on mid-band spectrum.

Lower-tier 5G FWA plans offer 40 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 10 Mbps, and 5 Mbps download speeds to match different price points and coverage areas. 4G LTE provides mobile coverage in all main towns and settlements. Mobile internet on 5G averages 122 Mbps download, significantly faster than fixed broadband.

Satellite Internet

Satellite connectivity serves remote eastern and northern communities. TUSASS uses Hispasat geostationary satellites for Qaanaaq in the far north plus Tasiilaq and Ittoqqortoormiit on the east coast. These locations connect through SES NSS-10 spacecraft with ground stations linking to an SES teleport in Europe.

Fiber Broadband

The satellite backhaul enables 4G mobile service and WiFi access points in these communities. Eastern Greenland residents receive broadband performance comparable to European fiber networks despite the satellite link.

Cable Broadband

Starlink entered the Greenland market in 2024, disrupting TUSASS pricing for customers in remote areas. Starlink provides an alternative for residents and businesses in locations without cable or strong mobile coverage.

Urban Areas

West coast cities connected to submarine fiber cable have the fastest and most reliable internet. Nuuk, the capital with 19,600 residents, has 5G Fixed Wireless delivering 80 Mbps, VDSL at 30 Mbps, and strong 5G mobile averaging 122 Mbps. Sisimiut and Ilulissat gained 5G FWA access in 2025, providing up to 80 Mbps to residents and businesses.

Maniitsoq has fiber connectivity through Greenland Connect North. These larger towns have multiple internet options and consistent availability. Fixed broadband averages 24 Mbps download across all urban connections.

Mid-size settlements without direct fiber cable rely on terrestrial microwave links or high-capacity radio chains. TUSASS extends connectivity inland from coastal cable landing points through relay towers. These areas typically receive 4G mobile service and VDSL up to 30 Mbps where infrastructure allows. Performance depends on distance from the nearest fiber node and local network congestion.

Remote and Underserved

Remote eastern and northern communities depend on satellite internet. Tasiilaq (population 2,000) and Ittoqqortoormiit (population 350) on the east coast connect via Hispasat and SES satellites. Qaanaaq (population 650) in the far north also uses satellite backhaul.

These locations receive 4G mobile service over the satellite connection, enabling broadband speeds suitable for basic browsing and communication. Satellite latency is higher than cable or terrestrial wireless, affecting real-time applications like video calls.

Starlink provides an alternative in these areas with lower latency and faster speeds for customers willing to purchase equipment and service directly.

Urban Areas

The gap between urban and remote connectivity is significant due to geographic isolation. No roads connect Greenland towns, so infrastructure deployment requires boats, helicopters, or aircraft to transport equipment.

The small population per settlement makes fiber-to-the-home builds difficult to justify economically. TUSASS focuses on bringing at least 4G mobile and basic broadband to all settlements before upgrading to higher speeds.

TUSASS

TUSASS is the sole telecommunications provider in Greenland with a licensed monopoly covering all services. The company operates all internet, mobile, postal, and broadcast infrastructure serving 56,500 residents. TUSASS offers multiple fixed broadband technologies depending on location.

5G Fixed Wireless Access delivers 80 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload for DKK 1,099 per month in Nuuk, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, and expanding cities. Lower-tier 5G FWA plans cost DKK 899 (40 Mbps), DKK 799 (20 Mbps), DKK 599 (10 Mbps), and DKK 499 (5 Mbps). VDSL service reaches 30 Mbps in cable-connected towns.

TUSASS mobile

TUSASS mobile offers unlimited calls and SMS on all monthly subscriptions. Mobile data costs DKK 249 per gigabyte. Prepaid SIM cards cost DKK 400 with DKK 200 included credit. Mobile internet averages 122 Mbps download on 5G in covered areas.

TUSASS focuses investment on submarine cable extensions and 5G deployment to major population centers. The company received 20.6 million euros from the European Commission in 2024 to build TUSASS Connect Vision along the southwest coast. Greenland Connect North extended fiber to Aasiaat in 2017, significantly improving speeds in northern towns.

TUSASS plans high-capacity radio chains from Aasiaat to Ilulissat to avoid costly submarine cable installation in shallow coastal waters.

Starlink

Starlink entered Greenland in 2024 as the first alternative to TUSASS. Starlink targets customers in remote areas without cable or strong mobile coverage. The service disrupts TUSASS pricing for satellite-dependent communities by offering faster speeds and lower latency than geostationary satellite. TUSASS retains advantages in mobile service, bundled offerings, and local customer support.

Fixed Broadband Pricing

Fixed broadband pricing varies by technology and speed tier. The highest-speed 5G Fixed Wireless at 80 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload costs DKK 1,099 per month (approximately USD 157).

Mid-tier 5G FWA at 40 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload runs DKK 899 per month (USD 128). Entry-level 5G FWA at 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload costs DKK 499 per month (USD 71). VDSL at 30 Mbps costs roughly DKK 700-800 per month in cable-connected towns.

All fixed broadband plans are month-to-month with no long-term contracts required. Router rental typically adds DKK 50-100 per month.

Mobile Data Pricing

Mobile data costs DKK 249 per gigabyte (USD 36 per GB), among the highest rates globally. Prepaid SIM cards cost DKK 400 (USD 57) including DKK 200 credit. Monthly mobile subscriptions include unlimited calls and SMS with data charged separately.

Affordability

At median household income of roughly DKK 400,000 per year (USD 57,000), a DKK 1,099 broadband plan represents about 3.3% of income. Internet is expensive relative to income due to extreme infrastructure costs in Arctic conditions.

The small population spread across vast distances makes deployment costs per subscriber much higher than mainland markets.

Contract and Fees

Starlink pricing is roughly DKK 700 per month (USD 100) for unlimited data after one-time equipment cost of DKK 4,000 (USD 570). This undercuts TUSASS pricing for rural customers previously relying on satellite or low-speed VDSL. Urban residents with access to 5G FWA still prefer TUSASS for faster speeds and bundled mobile service.

Greenland receives telecommunications subsidies from Denmark to offset high infrastructure costs. TUSASS invests revenue from profitable urban areas into extending service to remote settlements where operations lose money.

Mobile dominates internet access with 91.1% penetration compared to lower fixed broadband adoption. Many residents use mobile hotspots instead of fixed broadband due to lower costs and flexibility.

5G Rollout

5G Fixed Wireless Access launched in Nuuk in 2024 and expanded to Sisimiut, Ilulissat, and additional cities in 2025. Adoption is growing as residents switch from VDSL to faster wireless options. 5G FWA offers speeds up to 80 Mbps, triple the 24 Mbps average for fixed broadband.

Fiber Deployment

Submarine fiber cable coverage extends to major west coast cities through Greenland Connect and Greenland Connect North. The TUSASS Connect Vision extension will improve coverage along the southwest coast by 2026-2027. Cable-connected towns use VDSL at 30 Mbps maximum speed. Fiber-to-the-home deployment is limited to high-density areas in Nuuk.

The small population per town makes FTTH builds difficult to justify economically. TUSASS prioritizes 5G FWA over fiber for cost-effective speed upgrades.

Satellite and Emerging

Satellite serves remote communities without cable or strong mobile coverage. Geostationary satellite through Hispasat and SES reaches eastern and northern Greenland. Starlink entered the market in 2024, providing lower latency and faster speeds than traditional satellite.

5G Rollout

Starlink adoption is growing in remote areas despite high equipment costs. 4G LTE covers all main towns and settlements as of 2025. 5G deployment focuses on larger cities first with expansion to mid-size towns ongoing.

TUSASS aims to provide high-speed internet to 92% of the population within the next few years through continued cable extensions, 5G deployment, and targeted satellite upgrades.