Telia to build advanced 5G network for Swedish Armed Forces as part of NATO defense initiative

Telia, together with Ericsson, has been selected to develop, build and manage a dedicated 5G network for the Swedish Armed Forces and provide advanced 5G capabilities for a new military innovation platform. The initiative is part of NATO's efforts to accelerate the development of next-generation military communications and strengthen defense capabilities across the Alliance.

Working closely with Ericsson, Telia will deliver advanced 5G capabilities to a new innovation platform being established by the Swedish Armed Forces with support from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). The platform will form part of NATO Innovation Range, an initiative in which Sweden and Finland have been tasked with advancing military communications technology.

The new 5G capabilities will complement existing military communications systems, providing secure, reliable connectivity and improving operational resilience. They will also enable new applications, including real-time intelligence sharing, drone detection and enhanced situational awareness for military personnel.

Anders Olsson, Head of Telia Sweden: “We are incredibly proud of the trust placed in Telia to develop the Swedish Armed Forces' advanced 5G capabilities, in close collaboration with Ericsson. We have established a unique Nordic model for secure collaboration around digital infrastructure, bringing together private-sector companies and critical societal operations with a clear shared goal: to strengthen the defense capabilities of Sweden and NATO.”

Major General Mattias Hanson, Head of Cyber Defense at the Swedish Armed Forces: “Sweden should not only use the communications technology of the future; we should also help develop it for NATO's future defense. We have a unique position of strength through the world-leading telecommunications expertise found in the Nordic region. We are now combining this with the operational needs of the Swedish Armed Forces to develop capabilities more rapidly that strengthen both Sweden and our allies.”

Advanced 5G enables secure, highly available communications and can connect large numbers of systems and sensors. Combined with AI and cloud-based services, it can accelerate the development of military applications and improve coordination between military and civilian critical infrastructure.

Freddie Södergren, Head of Mission Critical Networks at Ericsson: “Sweden and Finland's assignment within NATO Innovation Range is an important recognition of Nordic innovation capabilities and the growing importance of digital infrastructure for defense. By combining advanced 5G with AI and cloud-based services, we can more rapidly turn new technology into operational capabilities and strengthen coordination between military and critical societal actors – an effort Ericsson is proud to contribute to alongside the Swedish Armed Forces, FMV and Telia.”

The initiative builds on the existing collaboration between the Swedish Armed Forces, Telia and Ericsson through the NorthStar innovation program, where 5G has been tested for military applications. It marks the next step from testing and innovation toward dedicated operational 5G capabilities for the Swedish Armed Forces.