Enhancing connectivity in rural areas of the Nordic-Baltic region
Barriers in access to high-speed internet are most pronounced in sparsely populated and remote rural areas. A new policy brief from Nordregio looks at how the Nordic and Baltic countries can deliver secure, future-proof and regionally inclusive connectivity in line with key EU legislation.
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The Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) is a key part of the EU’s strategy for universal high-speed digital connectivity. Nordregio’s policy brief says this legislation holds particular promise for the Nordic-Baltic region: it can help close digital divides in rural, remote and cross-border communities, thereby unlocking regional development, economic revitalisation and digital inclusion.
However, the GIA’s ambitions for transparency, accelerated rollout and market-driven expansion must be reconciled with (cyber)security imperatives, such as those set out in the NIS2 Directive. This poses a challenge for rural municipalities, who under the GIA bear significant responsibility for enabling the faster rollout of improved connectivity, but may not have the capacity to implement this.
To balance these objectives and provide secure, future-proof and regionally inclusive connectivity, the brief makes several policy recommendations for the Nordic and Baltic countries. These include:
- Aligning GIA implementation with regional governance and risk frameworks;
- Providing operational guidance for local authorities on the interplay of GIA (rollout of universal high-speed internet) and NIS2 (ensuring cybersecurity);
- Strengthening rural cybersecurity capacity of rural stakeholders (such as municipalities) through shared services and preparedness;
- Monitoring and evaluating the interaction of GIA and NIS2 over time.
The brief notes that rural areas face significant challenges, often contending with limited administrative capacity, ambiguous guidance and overlapping regulatory obligations under GIA and NIS2. Without targeted support, there is a risk of delayed rollouts and increased vulnerability, widening existing digital divides.
To mitigate these risks, Nordregio recommends that national and regional actors provide clear operational guidance, harmonise security standards and strengthen local capacity through shared services and funding support.
By aligning regulatory frameworks and long-term investment strategies, the Nordic-Baltic region can shape the development of secure and inclusive digital infrastructure. Establishing harmonised security frameworks and delivering robust support to local actors would ensure that infrastructure rollouts are efficient, equitable and resilient in the face of evolving cybersecurity threats, the brief concludes.
Explore the latest Rural Pact resources on digitalisation.