“Lagging Behind”? Metagovernance Strategies Regulating Digital Backbone Infrastructure

This paper explores the power dynamics in digital backbone infrastructure in Norway, focusing on the diversity of actors involved. The digital backbone infrastructure includes tangible items like satellites, data centers, content delivery networks, and underwater cables. The handling of sensitive data and threats to national security may escalate if this vital infrastructure is not regulated, controlled, and coordinated. Given the intricate relationships between global market participants, international policy, and national agendas, the study emphasizes the necessity of paying more attention to the governance of digital backbone infrastructure in the future. The study found that the Norwegian government has solid control over subsea Internet cables and IXPs, while private international actors dominate ownership of data centers and CDN'S. The study also found that metagovernance strategies influence power relations in the infrastructure. The emergence of these strategies could strengthen stability and flexibility in the state's role in this growing industry and policy field. The study highlights the importance of monitoring digital backbone infrastructure, fostering collaboration between market and state, and developing clear regulations and collaboration arenas. It also emphasizes the need for combining knowledge from different disciplines and exploring the concept of metagovernance in digital infrastructure to avoid “lagging behind” in its development.