NEWS
Ilkari expands European sovereign infrastructure with Croatia’ s DC North integration
Ilkari has expanded its European sovereign infrastructure operations by integrating Croatia’ s DC North data centre, strengthening its footprint across the European Union and enhancing services for regulated and data-intensive organisations.
The addition of DC North extends Ilkari’ s multi-region platform, which already includes operations in Iceland and Colombia. The company said the move supports its strategy of expanding EUbased sovereign infrastructure while delivering integrated domain services, colocation and sovereign cloud capabilities.
Located in Varaždin, around 70 kilometres north of Zagreb, DC North is Croatia’ s largest carrier-neutral data centre with 4 MW of operational capacity. The facility provides direct connectivity to Internet exchange points in Austria, Hungary and Slovenia, enabling low-latency connections across Central and Eastern Europe while supporting cross-border digital infrastructure requirements.
Shane Paterson, Chief Executive Officer, Ilkari, said:“ European organisations are increasingly reassessing where critical infrastructure is operated, how data is governed and how operational resilience is ensured across complex digital environments. The integration of DC North strengthens our European presence and enhances our ability to support customers that require resilient, sovereign-aligned infrastructure within the European Union.”
The facility holds Uptime Tier III Design and Facility certification alongside ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 20000, ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 certifications, plus PCI DSS compliance. It is also aligned with the EU’ s Digital Operational Resilience Act( DORA), supporting ICT risk management and operational continuity for regulated industries.
DC North will continue operating with its existing on-site management and technical teams as integration into Ilkari’ s wider European platform progresses.
Ericsson report highlights urgent need for resilient 5G connectivity across UK emergency services
new Ericsson report has found that 88 % of UK
A emergency services technology leaders believe 5G is critical to improving frontline operations, yet many organisations continue to depend on unreliable in-vehicle connectivity that limits operational effectiveness.
The research, Sector in Focus: State of In-Vehicle Connectivity in the UK’ s Emergency Services, shows that only 22 % of respondents currently use 5G routers, while 44 % still rely on mobile hotspots to maintain connectivity during deployments.
Only 24 % describe their in-vehicle connectivity as reliable enough to support critical applications consistently. Weak connections can prevent responders from using body-worn cameras, live video feeds, vehicle tracking, drones and other data-intensive tools, reducing situational awareness and delaying operational decisions.
Legacy networks are also affecting frontline personnel. Around 35 % of respondents say poor connectivity is lowering staff morale, while 29 % believe it is creating safety concerns. In addition, 32 % say managing multiple devices and networks adds unnecessary complexity.
Ericsson says enterprise-grade 5G and dual-SIM in-vehicle routers can provide resilient, high-speed connectivity, helping emergency crews maintain communications in demanding environments while improving coordination and access to real-time information.
Graham Everington, Regional Sales Manager, Blue Light at Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, said:“ When frontline responders can’ t upload video from the scene or view building plans in real time, they’ re effectively working with one hand tied behind their back. In-vehicle 5G routers provide the resilience and speed these vital workers need, from city centres to the most remote communities.” •
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