Nordic fiber broadband and data center firm GlobalConnect is expanding its data center in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Nordic telecoms firm this week announced it is expanding its data center in southern Stockholm with 600 sqm (6,458 sq ft) and 1.2MW of new capacity.

The extension, which will amount to “several hundred” new racks, is due to launch in 2026. The expansion will take the site to 2.7MW, representing an 80 percent increase.

The facility is set to be connected to the local district heating network from Exergi, and be able to heat around 2,700 nearby homes via its waste heat via a heat pump.

“We see this expansion as an important step in meeting the rapidly growing need for data capacity, driven by increasing data consumption linked to AI, streaming, and cloud services. This data center is already a hub in our Swedish infrastructure, and with this investment, we are creating completely new opportunities for both existing and new customers," said Anna Granö, EVP B2B at GlobalConnect. “GlobalConnect is working purposefully to ensure that our data centers have the lowest possible climate impact. By recycling waste heat, we can give something back to the local community, while building capacity for future digital services.”

Founded in 1998, GlobalConnect operates a 244,000km (151,614 miles) fiber network across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Finland. It says it currently operates around 17 data centers in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Germany with a total area of ​​35,000 square meters (376,735 sq ft).

The company reportedly operates four sites around Stockholm: Gärdet, Järfälla, Hammarby, and Sätra/Skärholmen. The latter two are located in the south of Stockholm.

Both owned by EQT, Swedish fiber firm IP-Only and GlobalConnect were merged in 2019, giving GlobalConnect its Swedish footprint. Founded in 1999, IP-Only took over the Hammarby and Sätra sites in 2014 after acquiring Availo.

The company recently said it was expanding its data center in Copenhagen, Denmark.

EQT Infrastructure has been GlobalConnect’s majority shareholder since 2016, with Mubadala joining as a minority investor in 2022. EQT has reportedly put the telecoms company up for sale with an €8bn ($9.41bn) price tag.