Norway’s data centre companies join forces

The Norwegian data centre industry strengthens its joint cooperation and founds the business association Norwegian Data Center Industry (Norsk Datasenterindustri)

The founders of the association consist of leading operators in the Norwegian data centre industry and the power companies Ringerikskraft and Statkraft. The association is placed under ICT-Norway and will strengthen the industry’s efforts for improved framework conditions and increased joint international marketing.

For the past year and a half, society has undergone a digitalisation that no one could have imagined before the pandemic. The importance of data centres as pillars of the digital infrastructure and guarantors of secure access to digital services for the public and private sectors has become very clear during this period.

The Norwegian Data Center Industry will work to strengthen Norway’s position as a data centre nation internationally, supported by the facts that Norway offers the highest share of renewable energy in Europe, with a very low climate footprint and the lowest electricity prices. In order to attract major international players to Norway the association will work with the following topics:

• Improved framework conditions for the data centre sector

• Simplify procedures for construction and operation of large data centres

• Coordinate international marketing activities

• Contribute to more and better educational offerings within the data centre sector

• Promote the use of sustainable technology and contribute to reaching the climate-neutrality objective

“Norway has all the prerequisites to become an attractive country to invest in a computerised business sector. The Norwegian data centre industry has an untapped growth and value creation potential, set against a large and rapidly growing international market. The Norwegian Data Center Industry will be a key player in ensuring good growth conditions and framework conditions for the industry, and I am pleased with the opportunity to lead this work forward”, says appointed General Manager Bjørn Rønning.

“The Norwegian Data Center Industry must be a clear voice in the public debate and must be an active driving force for necessary changes. To succeed, we need a clear, committed and well-composed executive board, with the necessary weight, breadth and experience. We’ve got it. I look forward to leading this board’s work in the future”, says Chairman of the Board, Petter M. Tømmeraas.

“The Norwegian Data Center Industry is a unifying, proactive and important player for the Norwegian data center industry, and I am grateful to be part of the board and contribute to the work of promoting the industry’s place in Norwegian society”, says Liv Freihow, ICT Norway.

“Invest in Norway, a section of Innovation Norway, is working to attract foreign investments in Norway, including in the data center industry. We are very positive to the formation of the Norwegian Data Center Industry, with the most mature players in Norway at the forefront. We look forward to a fruitful cooperation”, says Benedicte Fasmer Waaler, special adviser, Invest in Norway.

The Executive Board of the Norwegian Data Center Industry consists of:

• Chairman of the board: Petter M. Tømmeraas (Basefarm)

Board members:

• Gisle Eckhoff (Bulk, from September 1)

• Halvor Bjerke (DigiPlex)

• Tor Kristian Gyland (Green Mountain)

• Jørn Skaane (Lefdal Mine Datacenter)

• Liv Freihow (ICT-Norway)

• Kathrine Langjord (Statkraft)

Further information

digiplex.com