Telia is already the first operator in Lithuania to deploy 5G standalone (SA), and is now making the technology’s cutting-edge capabilities available to individual customers. Starting this week, users can reserve their own network capacity and enjoy top speeds, stability and security even during peak periods.

In 5G SA, the radio access network connects to a 5G core without relying on any 4G technology. This makes features like network slicing and ultra-low latency possible. In fact, latency can be reduced to less than 10 milliseconds, compared with 15-18 milliseconds for non-standalone 5G.

Arūnas Strolia, Head of Networks, Telia Lithuania: “Our new offering works like a fast-track lane at the airport – even if queues form during busy times, those with priority status move forward without stopping. For customers, this is a milestone. It means faster and more secure connectivity in densely populated areas, even during evening data-consumption peaks.”

Today, mobile data usage in Telia’s Lithuanian network is growing by 30% every year, driven by high-resolution streaming, video calls and gaming. According to Lithuania’s Communications Regulatory Authority, Telia subscribers are the country’s heaviest users of mobile data; an indication of both the company’s service quality and the demands placed on its infrastructure.

The new plan will initially be available to a limited number of customers. Telia’s 5G SA network in Lithuania uses a combination of 3.5 GHz and 700 MHz 5G frequency bands, covering a large share of the country’s population.

In late November, Telia opened Lithuania’s first private 5G SA network at the Baltic Sea port of Klaipėda. The deployment can support new industrial use cases and increase operating efficiency, while making the port more resilient to hybrid threats.

The latest GSA data shows that so far, only 11% of mobile operators worldwide have launched commercial 5G SA services.