Telia has launched “Telia Critical IoT Connectivity”, the first commercial availability of a 5G standalone (SA) service in Sweden. The service is designed for high-demand IoT applications in the emergency services, energy, transport, and healthcare sectors.

The service employs Telia’s existing 5G SA footprint to enable advanced network capabilities, including network slicing and ultra-low latency. Unlike non-standalone 5G, the SA architecture connects the radio access network directly to a 5G core, removing reliance on 4G technology. This allows for more precise traffic management and increased security for critical data.

The offering was developed through Telia’s NorthStar 5G innovation programme, which launched in 2023. The programme provided partners, including the Swedish Armed Forces and mining firm Boliden, with early access to 5G SA features to test industrial and security use cases.

“Through Telia Critical IoT Connectivity, we’re creating the conditions for organisations to use digital solutions in the most critical parts of their operations,” said Fredrik Stenberg, Head of B2B at Telia Sweden. He noted that the service aims to provide stability without compromising control.

Telia’s 5G network currently covers 99.9% of the Swedish population. The company stated that the transition to 5G SA is optimised for high-volume video and data transmission, ensuring performance remains stable during peak network usage.