The Russian government has decided to build an underwater fibre-optic communication line under the Kerch Strait to the Crimean Peninsula. The line route will run from the Taman Peninsula, the government reported on Tuesday.

The corresponding decree signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is posted on the Russian government’s website. The project will be implemented under the state program of socio-economic development of the Crimean Federal District for a period until 2020.

The communication line’s capacity will be at least 200 Gbit/s. Taking this into account, by 2018 the capacity of the channels ensuring operation of the Crimean Federal District’s communication networks within Russia’s single telecommunications network will reach at least 310 Gbit/s. This will make it possible to create increased capacity communication channels in Crimea for ensuring the development of broadband Internet access, telephone and television on the peninsula.

The shallow 4-5-km wide Kerch Strait separates Crimea from the Taman Peninsula. The sea depths there do not exceed 10 meters. Up to a hundred vessels pass the strait daily.