The future is electric

The main reason for gathering UK investors and stakeholders was to launch the NO-UK COM – the fibre cable between the two countries. To realize the cable, the initiative is looking for additional investors.

– The NO-UK COM will be the longest subsea cable in the world. There is a new drive in Norway these days to use Norwegian green electrical power for new purposes, and data centres is one of these purposes, said Ketil Barkved, CEO in NO-UK COM, often also called the England-cable. This new fibre cable will be crucial for developing the data centre industry in Norway.

For expanding the opportunities for data centre locations in Western Norway, it is of great importance to have a better international fibre connection. Besides presenting a new fibre connection between the two countries, data centre initiatives from Greater Bergen and from Rogaland County were present this evening to introduce and promote opportunities in Western Norway for locating British data centres.

Close to 50 people were gathered in the Norwegian Embassy to listen to the presentation from NO-UK COM – the England cable – and to be presented for data centre possibilities in Western Norway. 

Local engagement

A whole region is backing the NO-UK COM initiative. BKK, the local hydro power company in Greater Bergen and Hordaland County together with Invest in Bergen are investors and participants in the initiative to get this new fibre cable between our countries.

Why Norway?

Norway is ranked number two on the Data Centre Risk Index, and Norway has green, cheap and renewable surplus energy.

- Norway is a good and stable country for data centres and for investments, and we have several local investors in the project. During the next months we are applying for a public grant for the cable, said Barkved. He is sure a new fibre cable will be a door opener for data centres in Norway.

The climate on the western coast of Norway is perfect for data centres, it is cold, wet and there is this huge surplus of cheap electrical power. And power is an essential part of the cost for data centres.

Ketil Barkved is sure the NO-UK COM will put Norway on the data centre map.

Locations in Greater Bergen

In Greater Bergen, we have just launched three sites for data centres. One of the centres, Regn Datacenter in Børdalen, Samnanger Municipality, participated at the reception in the embassy. Børdalen is not yet ready zoned, but will hopefully be ready for a data centre location during 2018.

Here you find an overview of data centre sites in Greater Bergen. Please contact us for further details.