Telenor, Hafslund and HitecVision announces NOK 2.4 billion investment in Oslo data center
Telenor, Hafslund and HitecVision announces NOK 2.4 billion investment in Oslo data center
Telenor, one of our premium members, has collaborated with Hafslund and HitecVision and decided to invest NOK 2.4 billion in the joint venture.
The current geopolitical situation and the AI revolution increases the need for secure data storage on Norwegian soil. Telenor, Hafslund and HitecVision have hired a security director from the Norwegian Communications Authority as the CEO of their new joint venture, called Skygard. The construction of Skygard’s first secure and energy efficient data center in Oslo is now starting.
“We are proud to be making an investment that will ensure that Norway gets much-needed data centers emphasising security and sustainbility. We have great ambitions for Skygard and the timing is highly appropriate: the current geopolitical situation increases the need for secure solutions, whilst we simultaneously see an increasingly pressured market when it comes to capacity,” says Jannicke Hilland, Chair of the Board of Skygard and Executive Vice President for Infrastructure at Telenor.
The first data center will be built in Hovinbyen, Oslo, with construction starting in March 2024. Telenor Norway is the anchor customer in the project and Skygard is already in dialogue with several potential customers for the project.
“Skygard aims to be a Norwegian alternative in an international industry. Elise Lindeberg brings with her an impressive background in security and emergency preparedness,” says Jannicke Hilland.
Skygard stands out in the data center market by having Norwegian owners, a strong focus on energy-efficient operations, and meeting the needs of customers with very high security requirements.
“There is extensive digitisation in all sectors of society, leading to an increasing number of important and critical services relying on good digital solutions and security. Data storage plays a significant role, and I look forward to contributing to building up Skygard,” says Elise Lindeberg.
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