Arelion

What Arelion does

Arelion, headquartered in Stockholm and founded in 1993 (originally as Telia International Carrier, rebranded to Arelion in 2017), is a privately held global Tier-1 telecommunications carrier operating the AS1299 (Twelve99) Internet backbone, ranked #1 globally for backbone connectedness by Kentik since 2017. The company has grown entirely organically over 30+ years without acquisitions, building 80,000+ km of owned fiber, 350+ Points of Presence, and direct connections to 2,000+ customers across 129 countries, with traffic at the network edge reaching 200 Tb/s. Headcount is in the 501–1,000 range.

Arelion's portfolio spans six product pillars: (1) Internet & Cloud (IP Transit, Dedicated Internet Access / IP Connect, Cloud Connect to AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Oracle, and IBM, and IX Connect); (2) Security (SecureConnect with integrated DDoS mitigation and standalone DDoS Mitigation); (3) Network Connectivity (Wavelengths via DWDM with 30–40 Tb/s per fiber pair, Ethernet EVPL/ELAN, Smart IP-VPN/MPLS, Optical Fiber, Managed Optical Fiber); (4) Voice & Messaging (International Voice, Numbering Solutions, Flash Call Monetization, A2P Messaging); (5) Mobile Data & IoT (Mobile Data Roaming across 700+ operators, Roaming Signaling, IPX & IoT); and (6) AI Direct, a dedicated 400G EVPL suite for AI workloads. Underlying technology includes segment routing with Flex-Algo low-latency planes, sub-250 ms failover via TILFA, EVPN overlay control plane, RPKI validation across all peering links, and integrated volumetric DDoS protection using Flowspec.

The business model is B2B wholesale and enterprise, monetized through a mix of usage-based (IP Transit on per-Mbps/flat-fee) and recurring subscription pricing (DIA, Wavelengths, Ethernet, Cloud Connect, AI Direct, SecureConnect, Mobile Data Roaming), typically under multi-year contracts. Arelion goes to market via direct enterprise and wholesale sales, a Conflict-Free Channel Partner program (expanded to Mexico in 2026 with 10 PoPs and a Queretaro–Monterrey–Laredo fiber route), 450+ local access partners for last-mile connectivity, and a self-service My Arelion customer portal. Primary customer segments are Wholesale/ISP/Carrier, Hyperscalers & Neoclouds, Financial Services, and IT & Software, with secondary exposure to Manufacturing, Pharma & Health, Legal, Retail, and Government/Critical Infrastructure. No revenue figures or external funding rounds are disclosed; the company has financed all growth organically.

Name

Arelion

Legal name

Arelion

Website

https://arelion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Arelion is a Stockholm-headquartered Tier-1 global Internet backbone carrier operating AS1299 (Twelve99) across 80,000+ km of owned fiber in 129 countries, delivering IP Transit, Cloud Connect, Wavelengths, Mobile Data, and AI-optimized connectivity to 2,000+ wholesale, enterprise, and hyperscaler customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Network Connectivity Services

NAICS

Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Network Backbone & Core IP Transport (Long-Haul/Metro IP) (HDAIAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Terrestrial Long-Haul Fiber Backbone Operators (Intercity/Interstate) (HDAIALAG), Subsea Capacity Wholesale (IRUs, leased capacity, backhaul to landing stations) (HDAIAEAI), Wholesale ISPs & Bandwidth Resellers (Bulk Transit/Last-Mile) (HDAIADAC), Backbone & Long-Haul Transport (IP/MPLS, Optical/Wavelength) (HDABALAH)

Keywords

• IP transit services
• Tier-1 internet backbone
• Dedicated internet access
• Cloud connectivity services
• Managed optical fiber

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. IP Transit: Wholesale Internet access service enabling AS networks to access the rest of the Internet via BGP. IP Transit is charged on a usage basis or by flat monthly fee. This is Arelion's flagship product and primary revenue driver, supported by their Tier-1 backbone status.
2. Dedicated Internet Access (DIA / IP Connect): DIA provides dedicated, private-line Internet connection with guaranteed bandwidth, symmetrical speeds, and SLA commitments for enterprises without their own AS number or BGP routing capability. Offered as both standard DIA and SecureConnect DIA with integrated DDoS protection.
3. Wavelengths (DWDM Services): High-volume dedicated data transport using DWDM technology. Services offered as single link, protected link, or dual-link (fully diverse) configurations. Supports Ethernet, SDH, and OTN handovers at various capacities up to 400GE.
4. Ethernet Services (EVPL/ELAN): Carrier Ethernet services providing point-to-point (EVPL) and any-to-any (ELAN) connectivity over Arelion's MPLS backbone. Supports MSOP (Multiple Services on One Port) allowing multiple services on a single port with logical separation.
5. Cloud Connect: Direct access to major cloud service providers including AWS Direct Connect, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute, Oracle Cloud, and IBM Cloud through dedicated connections.
6. Mobile Data Roaming and Messaging Services: International roaming services reaching over 700 mobile operators globally, including SS7-based services, IPX & IoT connectivity, Flash Call Monetization, and A2P Messaging Hub for MNOs.
7. SecureConnect (DDoS Mitigation Add-on): Integrated DDoS protection bundled with IP Transit and DIA services. Provides automated attack detection and volumetric mitigation using Flowspec protocol at the network edge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Arelion operates a global Tier-1 Internet backbone (AS1299, branded Twelve99) spanning 80,000+ km of owned fiber across Europe, North America, and Asia with 350+ Points of Presence in 129 countries. The company sells wholesale and enterprise network connectivity services including IP Transit, Dedicated Internet Access, Cloud Connect, Wavelengths, Ethernet, Smart IP-VPN, Mobile Data Roaming, and integrated DDoS mitigation, primarily to other carriers, ISPs, hyperscalers, and large enterprises.

Product overview

Arelion operates a globally integrated network services platform offering Internet connectivity, security, network connectivity, voice and messaging, mobile data, and AI infrastructure solutions. The core platform is built on AS1299 (Twelve99), the world's #1 connected Internet backbone spanning 80,000 km across Europe, North America, and Asia with 350+ PoPs. Key product pillars include: (1) Internet & Cloud services - IP Transit, Dedicated Internet Access (DIA/IP Connect), Cloud Connect (with AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Oracle, IBM integrations), and IX Connect; (2) Security solutions - SecureConnect (enhanced IP Transit/DIA with integrated DDoS protection) and standalone DDoS Mitigation; (3) Network Connectivity - Wavelengths (DWDM), Ethernet (EVPL/ELAN), Smart IP-VPN (MPLS), and Optical Fiber; (4) Voice & Messaging - International Voice, Numbering Solutions, Flash Call Monetization, and International Messaging Services (A2P); (5) Mobile Data & IoT - Mobile Data Roaming, Roaming Signaling, and IPX & IoT; (6) AI Direct - a dedicated high-capacity connectivity platform for AI workloads featuring 400G EVPL services with dynamic routing and automatic traffic rerouting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AS1299 (Twelve99): Arelion's global internet backbone, ranked #1 globally for connectedness.
• AI Direct
• SecureConnect
• SecureConnect Transit
• SecureConnect DIA
• IP Connect
• Messaging Hub
• Twelve99

Products and services

• IP Transit BGP-based wholesale Internet access service providing connectivity to the entire Internet routing table via Arelion's Tier-1 AS1299 backbone, ranked #1 globally for connectedness. Sold to ISPs, content providers, mobile operators, and other carriers.
• Dedicated Internet Access (DIA / IP Connect) Direct, private-line Internet connection with guaranteed bandwidth, symmetrical speeds, and SLA commitments for enterprises that do not run their own AS number or BGP routing.
• Cloud Connect Dedicated private connectivity to major cloud service providers including AWS (via AWS Direct Connect), Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure (via ExpressRoute), Oracle Cloud, and IBM Cloud.
• IX Connect Connectivity to leading Internet Exchange Providers (IXPs) including LINX, ESPANIX, MSK-IX, AMS-IX, and DE-CIX for peering across key global traffic hubs.
• SecureConnect Enhanced IP Transit and DIA services with built-in volumetric DDoS protection via the Flowspec protocol, providing automated attack detection and mitigation at Arelion's network edge.
• DDoS Mitigation Volumetric DDoS attack protection built on the Arbor DDoS platform, with continuous global network monitoring and automated filtering defenses applied via Flowspec at the network edge.
• Wavelengths Dedicated high-volume data transport using DWDM technology, with capacities from 1GE to 400GE and flexgrid and C+L band technology capable of carrying 30-40 Tb/s per fiber pair.
• Ethernet Carrier Ethernet services including Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) point-to-point and ELAN any-to-any topologies over MPLS, supporting bandwidths from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps with MEF standards compliance.
• AI Direct High-performance connectivity suite designed for AI networking demands, including 400G Ethernet services, dynamic prioritized routing, and automatic traffic rerouting for AI workloads, GPU clusters, and hybrid cloud environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reach 95% of US and European end-users within a single network hop
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CellusyscoreTechnology or Integration · 15 October 2025Arelion partnered with Cellusys to offer a comprehensive suite of hosted roaming value-added services globally. The partnership aims to enhance roaming performance, security, and customer engagement, supporting operators in managing 5G Standalone implementation.
• ArubacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAruba (an Italian data center and IT services provider) opened its IT4 data center campus in eastern Rome and partnered with Sparkle, Arelion, and EXA Infrastructure to establish points of presence at the facility. The Rome campus is positioned as a strategic hub for southern Italy, the Balkans, and North Africa traffic.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationArelion offers AWS Direct Connect as part of its Cloud Connect portfolio, providing dedicated cloud connectivity to AWS with private network connections bypassing public internet.
• Google CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationArelion provides dedicated connectivity to Google Cloud as part of Cloud Connect services, enabling enterprises to connect privately to Google Cloud without traversing the public internet.
• Microsoft AzurecoreTechnology or IntegrationArelion offers Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute connectivity through its Cloud Connect service, enabling dedicated private connections to Azure cloud services.
• Oracle CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationArelion provides dedicated connectivity to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure through its Cloud Connect portfolio.
• IBM CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationArelion offers dedicated connectivity to IBM Cloud through its Cloud Connect service portfolio.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Hurricane Electric: US-based Tier-1 IPv6-native backbone operator (AS6939) and major global IP Transit provider. Competes with Arelion on commodity IP Transit and Internet Exchange services globally.
• PCCW Global: International wholesale carrier division of PCCW operating a global IP backbone and submarine cable network. Competes with Arelion for wholesale carrier and enterprise customers, particularly across Asia-Pacific and trans-Atlantic routes.
• Sparkle (TIM Group): International wholesale and IP Transit arm of Telecom Italia with Tier-1 backbone (AS6762) across Europe, the Americas, and the Mediterranean. Direct peer competing with Arelion for Mediterranean and European wholesale traffic.
• Colt Technology Services: Global B2B network provider with owned fiber backbone across Europe, Asia, and North America offering Ethernet, MPLS, and wavelength services. Comparable to Arelion in enterprise-focused connectivity and SDN-enabled offerings.
• RETN: Privately held international network service provider with owned fiber across Europe, Asia, and North America, focused on IP Transit and carrier services. Increasingly relevant competitor in European wholesale and Eastern European routes.
• Zayo Group: Privately held (under EQT) global fiber and bandwidth infrastructure provider with deep wavelength and dark fiber footprint in North America and Europe. Direct competitor to Arelion in wavelength services and enterprise backbone connectivity.
• Lumen Technologies: Major US-headquartered Tier-1 IP backbone and global wholesale carrier offering IP Transit, wavelengths, Ethernet, and managed services. Directly competes with Arelion for wholesale carrier and enterprise customers across transatlantic and European routes.
• GTT Communications: US-based Tier-1 global network operator providing IP Transit, Ethernet, MPLS VPN, and managed services to enterprise and carrier customers. Competes head-to-head with Arelion in wholesale IP Transit and enterprise connectivity.
• NTT Communications (NTT Data / NTT Ltd): Operates one of the world's largest Tier-1 global IP backbones (AS2914/NTT) and competes with Arelion across IP Transit, wavelengths, and managed network services for hyperscaler and carrier customers globally.

Broad incumbents

• Telia (Telia Company): Swedish incumbent telecom and former parent of Arelion (then Telia Carrier). Operates a large carrier/wholesale business across the Nordics and Europe and is a major competitor in the same geography despite divesting Arelion.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArelionCompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArelionCompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/Arelion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arelion