Phase 1 of the EU-funded Nordic Wave project, led by GlobalConnect, is now complete. The initiative aims to strengthen digital infrastructure across the Nordic region by upgrading existing fiber networks. The project enhances and enables high-capacity communications between northern and central Europe.
The first phase, covering the route from Stockholm to Luleå, now delivers capacity of up to 27 terabits per second by using the existing fiber backbone. To put that in perspective, 27 Tbps can support millions of simultaneous high-resolution video calls without noticeable delay. This is an important milestone in strengthening the region’s connectivity. The investment for this phase totals €650,000 and is co-financed by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
“By leveraging our existing fiber infrastructure, we deliver a significant digital upgrade without disturbing the environment or local communities with new excavation work,” says Pär Jansson, Senior Vice President at GlobalConnect. “The improved connectivity benefits businesses, municipalities and the public sector, while also supporting bilateral defence cooperation in the region.”
What is Nordic Wave? A project for growth and resilient digital infrastructure
Nordic Wave aims to create a resilient, high-capacity network from northern Sweden to Germany and Norway, integrated with GlobalConnect’s existing networks. The project supports the region’s role as a hub for green energy, advanced industry and critical resources. The main objectives of Nordic Wave are:
- Drive economic growth: Improved connectivity makes northern Sweden more attractive for energy-intensive activities such as data centers and green industries.
- Increase resilience: A strengthened digital infrastructure creates more secure and stable communications networks for businesses and the public sector.
- Promote innovation: High-speed connections enable closer collaboration between Nordic research institutions and global technology leaders.
Technology and timeline: A seamless upgrade
Nordic Wave upgrades the network using DWDM technology (Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing). This method increases capacity over existing fiber by transmitting multiple data channels on different light wavelengths simultaneously, achieving per-channel speeds of up to 400 Gbit/s—without service disruptions.
To illustrate: 400 Gbit/s is fast enough to stream more than 100,000 ultra-HD (4K) movies at once or to transfer the contents of a modern laptop in less than a second.
The project is divided into three phases:
- Stockholm to Luleå (completed)
- Luleå to Narvik
- Sundsvall to Trondheim
The entire project is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
Phase 1: A major upgrade to regional digital infrastructure
Phase 1 strengthens the link between Stockholm and Luleå by utilizing the existing fiber infrastructure—meaning no new digging is required and environmental impact is minimized. The upgrade significantly increases the region’s capacity for data traffic and reliability, meeting growing demand for high-performance connectivity.
Co-financed by the EU
Nordic Wave is co-financed by the EU’s CEF Digital programme and aligns with EU goals for sustainability, innovation and digital transformation. EU funding highlights the strategic importance of this project in strengthening the digital infrastructure in the Nordics.
What’s next? Expanding the Nordic digital backbone
With phase 1 complete, attention now turns to the Luleå–Narvik and Sundsvall–Trondheim stretches. These expansions will further strengthen Nordic digital infrastructure, create new economic opportunities and reinforce the region’s position as a leader in digital innovation.
“We see it as our responsibility to future-proof the region’s infrastructure to meet growing data demand,” says Pär Jansson. “Nordic Wave is a decisive step to strengthen connectivity—not only for businesses and the public sector, but for society as a whole. As digitalisation accelerates, we need a network that can handle rising volumes of data securely and efficiently. This project is about building long-term resilience and ensuring the Nordics remain at the forefront of digital innovation and economic growth.”