The infrastructure will be built with partners in five locations as part of its Northstar digitalisation programme
Telia announced it has secured funding from the European Union (EU) to build dedicated 5G networks in five locations across Sweden.
Four of the three-year projects will run primarily in strategic locations in northern Sweden in partnership the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Ericsson and others. The funding for these four is €300 million in total.
They will explore solutions for verticals including transport, logistics, agriculture and healthcare, at the Ultuna agricultural testbed, Luleå Harbour Boden Industrial Park, Skellefteå Smart City and hospitals around Stockholm.
The aim of the various projects is to make transport and logistics more efficient, to improve safety at ports, better manage traffic in cities and enable more sustainable agriculture. The projects will involve connected and self-driving vehicles, drones and agricultural robots.
Health in Stockholm
Additional funding of €6.4 million has been allocated to a new project around Stockholm. Telia and partners will build networks to explore how 5G services can help increase patient safety, quality of services and accessibility to healthcare.
The project includes video communication between ambulance and emergency departments, drones carrying defibrillators and video communication from the scene of an accident.
Building a 5G network within a hospital and installing sensors will allow the partners to explore real-time positioning of medical equipment and property management.
Magnus Leonhardt, Head of Strategy and Innovation for Telia’s corporate business, said, “The networks we are rolling out have the latest 5G technology and will also be used within the framework of our innovation program NorthStar with Ericsson – who possess technical capabilities that are crucial to the introduction of digital solutions on a broad front in these areas.
“It can create concrete benefits and customer value for both society, business and individual, such as more efficient transport, greener agriculture and better care.”
Northstar rises
Telia and Ericsson announced NorthStar in February 2023, as a 5G innovation programme for industrial enterprises. The idea is to support the development and implementation of new digital solutions and accelerate 5G adoption and transformation of industries.
The programme’s initial focus is on customers’ innovation and R&D units in the automotive and transportation sectors. Participating companies will have access to the tools and resources such as network slicing and positioning.