atNorth
Nordic data centre operator; 12 sites across 4 countries, acquired by Equinix.
Last refreshed: 16 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why did Equinix pay a premium for 800 MW of Nordic capacity through atNorth?
Timeline for atNorth
Equinix runs 46 builds, buys 800 MW Nordic
Data Centres: Boom and Backlash- Why are Nordic data centres like atNorth attractive to hyperscalers?
- Nordic sites combine renewable energy (geothermal in Iceland, hydro in Sweden/Norway) with sub-Arctic ambient cooling that drastically cuts PUE. They also benefit from stable electricity prices and less grid congestion than the US data-centre clusters in Northern Virginia.
- What did Equinix buy from atNorth?
- Equinix acquired approximately 800 MW of Nordic data centre capacity through atNorth across Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, as part of a broader European expansion announced in its Q1 2026 results.Source: Lowdown data-centres
- Who owns atNorth now?
- Equinix acquired atNorth in 2026 from Partners Group, the Swiss private equity firm that bought the company in 2022. atNorth now forms part of Equinix's Nordic xScale portfolio.Source: Lowdown data-centres
Background
atNorth is a Nordic colocation and hyperscale data centre operator with 12 facilities across Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland — the only provider with operations in four of the five Nordic countries. Its business model combines high-density colocation with build-to-suit services targeting hyperscalers, AI workloads, and high-performance computing. The company was founded over 15 years ago in Iceland and acquired by Swiss private equity firm Partners Group in 2022.
In May 2026, Equinix reported acquiring approximately 800 MW of Nordic capacity through atNorth as part of a broader European expansion. The deal adds significant xScale hyperscaler capacity to Equinix's 3 GW pipeline and reflects the strategic value of Nordic sites: Iceland's geothermal power and sub-Arctic climate give natural cooling advantages, while Denmark and Sweden provide interconnection to continental European hyperscale demand.
The acquisition is a significant consolidation event in the European market. atNorth's multi-country Nordic footprint is difficult to replicate organically: Iceland's geothermal resource is finite, Danish and Finnish permits are subject to grid queue constraints, and Sweden's northern sites depend on renewable power contracts that take years to secure. For Equinix, the deal provides pre-permitted, operational capacity at a time when its 46 active global builds are already absorbed by pre-sold demand.