The Swedish Armed Forces has joined telecom operator Telia and equipment manufacturer Ericsson’s program to evaluate 5G networks in support of military operations.
The collaboration involves testing advanced network technologies developed through a 5G innovation program launched in 2023, including 5G Standalone (SA) architecture to enhance secure communications, logistics, and interoperability with NATO allies.
The 5G SA architecture features a dedicated core and radio access network, enabling more precise and secure communication of audio, data, images, and video for defense use.
Testing will also assess the positioning and tracking of vehicles, drones, and personnel, as well as deploying temporary connectivity in areas without existing coverage.
“We will try to figure out how to be faster in innovation and how to solve a military problem with civilian technology,” Brigadier-General Mattias Hanson, chief information officer at the Swedish Armed Forces, told Reuters.
“We need to speed it up due to the geopolitical situation in the last six months,” added Hanson.
Enhancing Defense Efforts
In response to heightened security concerns following Russia’s war in Ukraine, several European countries are ramping up defense efforts.
Sweden, the most recent country to join NATO, announced in March a planned increase of 300 billion kronor ($30 billion) in defense spending over the next 10 years.
The initiative is the country’s largest military build-up since the Cold War.
Sweden currently allocates about 2.4 percent of its GDP to defense and plans to raise it to 3.5 percent by 2030.
