Recent months have seen growing challenges to digital infrastructure, including incidents where subsea cables have been damaged or severed. To address this vulnerability, GlobalConnect has completed a new land-based data communications link between Sweden and Finland.
The new connection consists of three fiber cables between Sweden and Finland and is part of GlobalConnect’s 2,600-kilometer digital infrastructure project that begins in Berlin and extends to Finland. The project aims to create a more resilient digital environment in the Nordics by reducing single points of failure and expanding capacity for data traffic. The new interconnection of the countries’ digital infrastructure provides alternative routes for data traffic, strengthening digital security and overall resilience.
“By building more and stronger links, we reduce the network’s vulnerability and reinforce digital infrastructure. This is an important part of our work to create a robust, future-proof digital environment in the Nordic region,” says Pär Jansson, head of international fiber expansion at GlobalConnect.
Contributions to security and regional development
For Sweden, the connection strengthens regional connectivity and creates conditions for new business investments, particularly in the data center industry. In Finland, the project complements GlobalConnect’s earlier investments in the Helsinki region, where an additional 260 kilometers of new fiber are being laid as part of a larger €500 million investment.
“This connection is vital to strengthening the region’s digital security and capacity while enabling continued economic growth,” says Helena Bergstrand, CEO of GlobalConnect Finland.
Positioning the Nordics as a global data hub
With investments like this, the Nordics are reinforcing their role as a global hub for data communications. The region already offers strong advantages for the data center industry, and forecasts suggest that more than half of Europe’s planned investments in data centers over the coming years will be directed to the Nordic countries.
“The Nordics have unique strengths to meet growing demand for data capacity, and we are proud to contribute to that development,” adds Jansson.
Project summary
- Geography: Links Sweden and Finland, as part of a longer route from Berlin.
- Completion: Finished in December 2024.
- Capacity: Up to 3 petabits per second, equivalent to the current total data traffic in the Nordics.
- Investment: Approximately 75 million Swedish kronor.
This land-based fiber link is a strategic addition to the region’s digital infrastructure, reducing reliance on vulnerable routes and enabling greater redundancy. By diversifying physical paths for data, the project helps protect critical services, supports economic growth, and positions the Nordics for a larger role in global data flows. As demand for capacity continues to rise, investments in resilient, high-capacity links like this one will be key to ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and strengthening cyber resilience across national borders.