Arelion has announced a significant upgrade to its Scandinavian network infrastructure, aiming to meet the escalating demands of AI and cloud applications in the region. The enhancement focuses on the critical corridor connecting Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen, utilizing Ciena’s open 6500 Reconfigurable Line System (RLS) equipped with 1.6 Tbps wavelengths and scalable 400G coherent pluggable optics. This strategic move is designed to bolster connectivity for hyperscale data centers and emerging AI campuses, ensuring robust support for wholesale and enterprise customers.
The network expansion includes the augmentation of existing ducts and the completion of new cable constructions, enhancing the diversity and bandwidth of Arelion’s Tier-1 network. This initiative builds upon Arelion’s history of pioneering advancements in optical networking, such as the successful 1,069-kilometer IP transmission using Cisco’s 800G ZR+ coherent optics between Stockholm and Hamburg, and the world’s first live 1.6 Tbps wavelength data transmission with Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme in August 2024.
Scandinavia’s appeal as a data center hub is underscored by its abundant land, sustainable energy sources, and stable energy pricing. Oslo alone boasts a data center capacity of 423 MW, with projections indicating an annual increase of 280–580 MW across the Nordics. The regional AI market is also on an upward trajectory, expected to reach $19.90 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 26.24%. Arelion plans to complete this network upgrade by late Q2 2025, with additional investments slated through 2026.
• Deployment of Ciena’s 1.6 Tbps wavelengths and 400G coherent pluggable optics on the 6500 RLS platform.
• Expansion of network infrastructure to connect key data centers in Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.
• Enhancement of network diversity and bandwidth to support AI and cloud applications.
• Completion of network upgrade anticipated by late Q2 2025, with further investments planned into 2026.
• Scandinavian data center capacity projected to grow significantly, driven by favorable conditions and increasing AI market demand.
“This strategic upgrade is the first step in a series of ongoing investments, reflecting our long-held mission to maximize our network assets by enhancing capacity, scalability, and diversity,” said Johan Godal, Product Manager at Arelion. “This strategy allows our customers to accelerate their adoption of emerging applications by connecting to Scandinavia’s AI superhighway.”