Telenor and Hafslund have announced a partnership to build data centres in the Oslo area. This joint venture comes at a time when the criteria for security and sustainability are tightening, coinciding with Norway’s digitisation.
“Data centres are, in many ways, the digital heart of any business. This is where the data flows to and from, which involves high quality, security and energy efficiency requirements. Together with Hafslund and partners, we will now establish Norway’s most secure commercial data centre operator, with a strong focus on sustainable solutions”, says Sigve Brekke, CEO of Telenor.
According to the statement, the new company, in collaboration with HitecVision, an energy company developer, and Analysys Mason, a telecom, media, and technology consulting agency, will focus on building secure and energy-efficient data centres in the Oslo area.
“Backed by Norwegian-managed capital, this partnership will help resolve a significant issue in an increasingly digital society. Norwegian security authorities have requested the establishment of data centres and cloud services for sensitive information, functions and infrastructure of importance to national security interests in Norway. By creating this company, we are facilitating that sensitive data across sectors is stored and delivered safely on Norwegian soil”, says Brekke.
The investment will contribute to establishing more Norwegian data centres and thus increase the possibility that digital services can be produced within the country’s borders, which gives a greater degree of national control and better safeguarding of functions critical to society. The new company is part-owned by Telenor (31.7%), Hafslund (31.7%), HitecVision (31.7%) and Analysys Mason in Norway (5.0%).
Three new datacentres
The plan includes the construction of three data centres in the Oslo region, with a total capacity of 40 MW (megawatt). These data centres will provide colocation facilities for multiple tenants, allowing private and public businesses to securely store their servers and critical IT infrastructure. Telenor Norway will deploy its own infrastructure with security requirements to ensure the safe storage and delivery of data.
Safe and sustainable
The new company will build and operate safe, energy-efficient data centres with solid and secure owners. Instead of leaving servers tucked away in basements, the new company makes it possible for businesses to move servers and critical IT infrastructure inside ata centres. This aids businesses and society from unnecessarily high electricity consumption and lays the foundation for more responsible operations.
Together with Norway’s district heating supplier, Hafslund Oslo Celsio, the company aims to design data centres with efficient solutions for reusing excess heat. The data centres, therefore, become a valuable contributor to a circular economy in Oslo municipality.
“Establishing these data centres will be an important contribution to enabling Norway’s green transformation and digitalisation. With solutions to reuse excess heat, the data centres will free up power consumption for heating and thus provide energy-efficient solutions necessary to reach Oslo’s and Norway’s climate goals”, says Finn Bjørn Ruyter, CEO of Hafslund.
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