NIB finances fibre-optic network expansion in Finland under the InvestEU programme 

• NIB has signed a EUR 50 million loan with Finland-based Valokuitunen Oy, a fibre network operator, to co-finance the expansion of fibre-optic networks across Finland.  
• The expansion, which will primarily take place in suburban areas and outside major city centres, is supported by the InvestEU programme. 
• The loan will have an initial maturity of 5 years, and the total capital investments are estimated to be above EUR 500 million.  

The expansion and densification of the fibre network will add nearly 450,000 homes passed (HP) and more than 250,000 homes connected (HC) by 2030. Homes passed refers to premises reached by the network, while homes connected are those that are actively connected to it.  

According to Traficom, the Finnish fiber-based broadband network coverage stood at 80% in 2025, in line with EU average (79.4%), but still notably below Nordic peers (88%–98%). The investments will strengthen broadband access to infrastructure by expanding the coverage of the high-speed capacity network by up to 1 Gbit/s.  

The project contributes to the EU’s strategic connectivity objective of ensuring gigabit-capable connectivity for households and businesses under the 2030 Digital Compass and is supported by the InvestEU programme. 

“Finland still has a need for further investment in fibre-optic broadband networks. We are therefore very pleased to support Valokuitunen in expanding access across the country,” says André Küüsvek, NIB President and CEO. 

“This is the largest financing package ever arranged in Finland’s fiber-optic sector. Our strong financial position and solid growth trajectory were key factors in successfully negotiating this new financing arrangement. We have already built Finland’s largest open-access fiber network, and the next important step is to ensure that as many households as possible connect to the network that has already been deployed in their area. When building the network, we employ both local and nationwide companies, which is very important for Finnish businesses and economic growth,” says Heikki Kaunisto, CEO, Valokuitunen.  

Valokuitunen is a Finland-based fibre network operator with around 120 employees. Valokuitunen currently operates in more than 127 municipalities across Finland and is owned by Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. and telecommunications operator Telia. 

Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) is an international financial institution owned by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. NIB strengthens the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the Nordic-Baltic region. The Bank is headquartered in Helsinki with a regional hub in Riga. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s. 

InvestEU

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds. It aims to trigger more than EUR 372 billion in investment for EU policy priorities such as the European Green Deal, the digital transition, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. NIB has been an InvestEU implementing partner since December 2022. 

Contact: 

Lennart Richardsen, Senior Director, +358 40 7372734, lennart.richardsen@nib.int  

Tuomas Suurpää, Senior Banker, ++358 400382717, tuomas.suurpaa@nib.int  

Tommy Hellström, Associate Communications Officer, +358 10 618 0214, tommy.hellström@nib.int