Arelion has overhauled its Scandinavian network infrastructure in a bid to build what it describes as an 'AI superhighway' for the region.

The overhaul saw Arelion bring in scalable 400G coherent pluggable optics from Ciena, including its open 6500 Reconfigurable Line System, leveraging 1.6 Tb/s Waves in a move the operator said would boost bandwidth for both new and existing customers.

The network upgrades aim to connect hyperscale data centers across the region, with plans to augment existing network ducts to support the influx of data expected from AI workloads.

The operator has already conducted live network field trials in the region, including a 1,069-kilometer IP transmission across its long-haul route between Stockholm, Sweden, and Hamburg, Germany that was boosted by Cisco's 800G ZR+ coherent optics.

Arelion also claimed to have achieved the world's first live 1.6 Tb/s Wave data transmission with Ciena's Wavelogic 6 Extreme back in August 2024.

Johan Godal, product manager at Arelion, said: “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.

“This strategy allows our customers to accelerate their adoption of emerging applications by connecting to Scandinavia’s AI superhighway.”

Scandinavia is a hotbed for data centers with operators benefiting from free cooling from the naturally cold air and access to a plethora of hydroelectric power boons not available to operators in oversaturated markets like FLAP-D.

Oslo's data center industry alone has a total capacity of 423 MW, with Arelion citing Norwegian Data Center Industry (NDI) estimates that the Nordics' installed capacity will increase by 280-580 MW annually.

Arelion’s decision to overhaul its network comes as the Nordics are expected to see data center demand grow by up to 110 percent, according to a recent report from Ember.

The operator's upgrades aim to support the market growth with an enhanced backbone as well as access to services like scalable IP Transit, Global 40G Ethernet Virtual Circuit (VC), and DDoS Mitigation services for service providers, content providers, and enterprises.

The network upgrade is expected to be completed by late Q2, with Arelion planning further investments in the region throughout the rest of 2025 and into 2026.

“Arelion reinforces its standing as a trailblazer with this substantial investment, allowing it to enhance network capacity and energy efficiency through the power of open optical networking and next-generation coherent optic solutions,” said Virginie Hollebecque, VP and leader of EMEA at Ciena.

“This network upgrade through Ciena's RLS solution will prove crucial for supporting Scandinavia's AI boom, enabling continued innovation through Arelion's forward-thinking vision.”