The Digital Decade Policy Programme of 2022 sets ambitious digital goals for the EU by 2030. These targets include providing all users with gigabit networks, establishing 10,000 climate-neutral, secure edge nodes with low latency data services, and having the first quantum-accelerated computer by 2025.
Stockholm contributes to achieving these targets through its neutral dark fibre network, Stokab. Established in 1994. Stokab provides a competition-neutral infrastructure with 1.9 billion km of fibre in 9,900 km of cables, connecting nearly all educational and research institutions in the region. The availability of dark fibre to ISPs, research institutes, and companies has made Stockholm a testbed for cutting-edge communication technologies, aiding in the deployment of 4G and now ultrafast 5G networks.
Stockholm ranks highly in the EU Regional Innovation Scoreboard and is home to notable companies like Klarna, Spotify, Mojang, and Skype. Stokab's dark fibre network, operating on a wholesale basis, enables diverse services and applications. It supports high-tech fields such as audio-visual media, quantum computing, and smart cities. For instance, KTH and Ericsson used Stokab’s network to establish the EU's first quantum communication link.
The network also supports "High Performance Computing" services, creative industries, transport, and environmental management. Stockholm’s example shows how a neutral fibre network can drive innovation, supporting the Digital Decade targets and fostering economic and technological growth across various sectors. Public ownership of such networks ensures broad access and supports diverse applications.
