Norway’s first sustainable and secure AI cloud service showcases a path for other countries to maintain data sovereignty while advancing green computing initiatives. Building on a 170-year history as a telecommunications provider, Telenor launched Norway’s first AI factory in November.
The fast-tracked facility allows organizations to process sensitive data securely within Norway, prioritizing environmental responsibility. Kaaren Hilsen, Telenor’s Chief Innovation Officer and Head of the AI Factory, discussed the rapid development process on the NVIDIA AI Podcast. The factory went from concept to reality in less than a year. It now serves customers across industries like logistics and public services, providing sustainable and secure sovereign AI, a model where nations control the production of their own intelligence.
Telenor’s dedication to sustainability is evident in its plans for a data center in Oslo. This center will be powered by renewable energy sources and will repurpose excess heat for district heating in nearby residential buildings. Sovereign AI infrastructure empowers nations to manage sensitive data and further their sustainability goals.
As Hilsen stated, the AI factory is not just about building infrastructure; it is “helping move society forward,” doing so responsibly and sustainably. Hilsen will present additional insights at NVIDIA GTC, the leading global AI conference, in a session titled, “Accelerating Sovereign AI Factories: Insights from Telco Case Studies.” Attendees can also explore the lineup of telecom sessions at GTC and learn more about how telecom companies are becoming sovereign AI factories.
In NVIDIA’s third annual survey of telecommunications professionals, a substantial 84% of respondents plan to offer generative AI solutions to their customers. The primary delivery models are software-as-a-service (52%) and developer platforms, including compute services (35%).
