As the Nordics rely more on American tech giants for digital infrastructure, questions of sovereignty and control are growing. The Nordic Network for Communication Infrastructure Research (NNCIR) explores digital communication infrastructures, datafication, and platform dependencies shaping Nordic media and industries. You can now follow NNCIR’s activities on NordMedia Network.
In the Nordic region, the digital landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. The Nordics now find their communication infrastructures increasingly dominated by global tech giants such as Akamai, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. These corporations own and operate the cloud services, data centres and content delivery networks that are essential to the region’s media industries. This shift raises critical concerns about universal access, transparency, and privacy — the Nordic welfare state principles.
The Nordic Network for Communication Infrastructure Research (NNCIR), established in March 2023, is at the forefront of addressing these challenges. Comprising scholars from Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Norway, and Sweden, the network focuses on the evolving dynamics of digital communication infrastructures, datafication, and platform dependencies that influence Nordic societies.
In February 2024, NNCIR, in collaboration with Nordicom, Nordregio, and the Nordic Council of Ministers, hosted a symposium titled “The Public Value of Communication Infrastructures in the Nordics”. This event, held in Stockholm, brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the region’s reliance on major tech companies and the implications for the welfare state. The symposium featured panels on research insights, regulatory challenges, and the future of democratic communication infrastructures.
Looking ahead, the network is organizing its next event, “Infrastructure Sovereignty in the Nordics: Risks, Dependencies, and Societal Resilience of Communication in Digital Welfare States,” scheduled for 30—31, October, 2025, in Norway.
— “Communication infrastructures are the backbone of digital societies, but they are increasingly reliant on digital structures dominated by international, private actors, says Helle Sjøvaag, Chair of NNCIR. “We bring researchers and experts from across the region to better understand the impact of these actors on the communication ecosystem and the overall networked media economy in the Nordic region”.
For ongoing updates, insights, and event announcements, follow NordMedia Network, where NNCIR’s news and activities will be published.
Image: Adobe Stock.