Digital preparedness must be upgraded to the defence class
The digital infrastructure that keeps Norway going is underfunded and vulnerable. If the municipalities are to be able to handle crises in a more troubled world, the digital foundation must be strengthened – with national control, local preparedness and increased funding.
Debate: By NITO President Kjetil Lein and CEO of TEK Norway, Øyvind Husby. The post was published on altinget.no 22.10.2025.
The digital infrastructure that supports society and our emergency preparedness is underfunded. The Government proposes NOK 421 million to strengthen digital infrastructure in next year's national budget. This is not enough. With extreme weather, increasing cyber threats, aggressive superpowers and an ongoing war in Europe, Norway must take far greater responsibility for securing the digital foundation. The allocation must be at least doubled.
As a NATO member, Norway has committed to spending 1.5 per cent of GDP on civilian measures that strengthen the defence. If we are to take the functionality and preparedness of the highly digital Norwegian society seriously, much of this defence share must be spent on securing critical digital infrastructure, civilian resilience and protection against hybrid threats and cyber attacks.
Local preparedness
Critical ICT infrastructure must be under national control. TEK Norway and NITO have long called for a long-term plan for digital infrastructure, and although the plan was published this summer, it is acutely underfunded. The pace and scope must be increased. According to the plan, enhanced ecom will be established in 100 municipalities by 2030. It's too little, too slow.
Electronic communications encompass all infrastructure and services for the transmission of data and telecommunications, and is particularly important for critical infrastructure in crisis situations. Local crisis management is completely dependent on functioning digital communication – not only mobile coverage, but also data centers, emergency alerts, backup solutions and redundancy. When the power goes out and the grid goes out, the municipalities must have systems that work. It's not a luxury – it's preparedness.
Small change to the municipalities
The municipalities are the first line of civil preparedness. The Government is planning an increase of NOK 4.2 billion in the local government sector's free revenues next year, but adjusted for expenditure on population changes, this only gives an increased room for manoeuvre of NOK 1.3 billion. This is small change in a time of crisis. More than half of Norwegian municipalities are already struggling to make ends meet. As a result, investments in critical infrastructure, such as the replacement of vulnerable IT systems and necessary upgrades, are not prioritised. When the municipalities are not prioritised, the preparedness of the whole of society is weakened.
In March this year, the Norwegian Communications Authority uncovered major vulnerabilities in Norway's digital infrastructure, especially in Buskerud and Innlandet. Fibre cables to mobile and broadband networks were open and were very vulnerable to extreme weather, accidents and sabotage. During the extreme weather "Hans" in August 2023, large parts of Ål center lost mobile and internet coverage for a long time. This made it difficult for the municipality to notify and inform citizens, and illustrates how critical digital infrastructure is for local emergency preparedness and crisis management.
It is urgent to secure the country
In a nationally representative survey from September 2025, one in three Norwegians answer that they believe it is likely that Norway will be hit by a digital attack that knocks out important societal functions for more than 24 hours. New threats such as hybrid warfare and cyber attacks, especially against critical services, are increasing in speed and complexity. This is emphasized by, among others, the Norwegian Intelligence Service, the NSM and the Norwegian Customs.
It is urgent to secure our digital foundation. In order for this to be a budget that secures the country in an uncertain time, the government must take responsibility – and at least double the allocation for digital infrastructure.
