GlobalConnect initiates major upgrade of the Nordic backbone network to triple capacity

GlobalConnect, one of the leading digital infrastructure providers in the Nordics, has launched a major project to triple internet capacity across 1,250 km in just two years — covering key cities such as Stockholm, Gävle, Gothenburg, Oslo, and Helsinki. The initiative represents one of the largest internet upgrades in Nordic history.

Over the coming years, new high-capacity fiber cables will be added to existing infrastructure, tripling data capacity on critical digital highways between Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

“Much of the digital infrastructure in the Nordics is more than 20 years old and is running out of capacity. We are now futureproofing it to keep pace with accelerating demand – primarily driven by the rapid growth of data centers and AI hotspots across the region,” says Pär Jansson, SVP GlobalConnect Carrier. “By tripling capacity, we’re ensuring that businesses, data centers and public institutions will continue to have access to secure, and reliable high-capacity digital services, no matter where they are located.”

The upgrade program started in late 2025 and will continue through 2027, representing an estimated total investment of ~40 million euros.

Upgrades on land and at sea
In addition to land upgrades, GlobalConnect has also announced multiple subsea cable projects, connecting Sweden with Finland, Åland, Estonia, and Gotland (240 km). These routes will create additional digital highways across the Baltic Sea and strengthen the region’s network resilience.

With both the land upgrades and subsea cables in place, GlobalConnect’s expanded fiber network will support the Nordic region’s connectivity needs for decades to come.

“This project represents one of the most extensive upgrades to the Nordic internet and marks an important milestone for GlobalConnect in today’s geopolitical climate. By tripling network capacity and adding several new subsea cables, we are strengthening regional redundancy and resilience for decades to come,” says Pär Jansson, SVP, GlobalConnect Carrier.

Project by the Numbers

• Total reinforced fiber: ~1,250 km
• Capacity increase: +300% (288 fibers strands)
• Investment: ~40 million euros
• Timeline: 2025–2027
• Major cities included: Stockholm, Gävle, Gothenburg, Oslo, Helsinki
• 6 municipalities in Norway (starting November 2025)
• 18 municipalities in Sweden (starting November 2025
• 13 municipalities in Finland (starting Q1 2026)

Project Timeline

2025

• Construction starts on land at multiple sites in Norway and Sweden

2026

• Continued land-based construction
• Repeater site construction

2027

• Completion of upgrades across the Nordics

Part of GlobalConnect’s ‘Bifrost’ program
The sea cable and land upgrade projects form a key part of GlobalConnect’s broader “Bifrost” initiative – a long-term investment program aimed at expanding and modernizing the Nordic fiber network with more than 3,000 km of new fiber in the coming years. Bifrost was launched in 2023, with several milestones already completed, such as a digital highway between Luleå, Helsinki and Berlin, capable of transporting all data in the Nordics.