Arelion announced a major fiber investments in its extensive Scandinavian network, to better connect hyperscale data centers and serve the region's booming AI markets.
Provider of telecommunication services Arelion, a tier 1 network provider, will install new high-fiber count cables in existing ducts between Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen. The upgrade will secure long-term fiber availability to meet fast-growing demand for AI infrastructure and strengthen network resilience in the Nordics.
Arelion (formerly Telia International Carrier) originally built its Scandinavian network 25 years ago, with multiple ducts installed on all major Nordic routes in anticipation of future demand. The company currently operates a mesh of terrestrial routes across Scandinavia, providing diverse access to 13 subsea cables connecting the Nordics and Baltics. Through this investment, Arelion will be proactively upgrading its network by connecting hyperscaler data centers with newly constructed last-mile infrastructure, and by adding new fiber through existing ducts. Arelion already has significant Scandinavian duct capacity between the major Nordic capitals, and this expansion will add high-fiber count cable infrastructure between Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen.
Supporting the AI growth in the Nordics
"By anticipating future demand rather than reacting to it, we built the infrastructure foundation that's now critical for supporting the AI growth in the Scandinavian region. Installing new cables in our existing ducts will also minimize the impact on the environment compared to constructing a brand-new duct and cable system," said Daniel Kurgan, CEO at Arelion. "This strategic upgrade is the first step in a series of ongoing investments, reflecting our long-held ambition to maximize our network assets by enhancing capacity, scalability and diversity. This allows our customers to accelerate their adoption of emerging applications by connecting to Scandinavia's AI superhighway."
Scandinavia is a strategic data center hub due to its higher availability of land, sustainable power and more stable energy pricing than other European regions. Oslo's data center industry alone has a total capacity of 423 MW, with consultants estimating that installed Nordic capacity will increase by 280-580 MW annually. Analysts project the region's data center construction market will reach $7.38 billion by 2030, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.47 percent. Scandinavia's AI market is also expanding, with experts estimating a CAGR of 26.24 percent to reach $19.90 billion by 2031. Arelion will complete this network upgrade by 2026, with further Scandinavian network investments planned throughout the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
