Nokia, Telia & Finnish Defence Forces Achieve 5G Milestone
Nokia, Telia and the Finnish Defence Forces have successfully conducted the world's first seamless 5G standalone (SA) slice handover across multiple national borders. The live trial, carried out in March 2025 in Finland, represents a significant milestone in advancing critical 5G capabilities for defence and other mission-critical industries. The achievement showcases the potential of 5G technology to deliver secure, uninterrupted communications across borders, an increasingly vital capability for modern defence operations.
A milestone for mission-critical communications
The trial was part of a Nordic military exercise aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of maintaining a continuous and secure data connection over a 5G SA slice while transitioning between three separate networks across three different countries.
The capability is crucial for coalition military missions, where uninterrupted access to mission-critical applications and services is non-negotiable.
Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, highlighted the importance of this breakthrough: "Seamless 5G slice continuity over country borders is a breakthrough for defence operations, enabling secure and reliable communications for collaborative missions that extend beyond national territories.
"Our trial with Telia and the Finnish Defence Forces reflects our commitment to delivering robust 5G solutions for defence customers, helping them achieve mission-critical objectives."
Technology behind the success
The trial leveraged Nokia's cutting-edge technologies, including its 5G Core Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and AirScale 5G base stations powered by ReefShark System-on-Chip technology. These were integrated with Telia's commercial network to create a seamless cross-border handover.
Nokia's intelligent network management system, MantaRay NM, provided centralised monitoring and management to ensure optimal performance during the transition.
The innovative use of network slicing—a feature unique to 5G SA networks—enabled the creation of a dedicated virtual network segment tailored to meet the high-security and low-latency requirements of defence operations.
Network slicing allows multiple customised virtual networks to operate on the same physical infrastructure, making it an ideal solution for mission-critical applications.
Dual-use potential of 5G technology
The trial highlights the dual-use possibilities of 5G technology. Beyond its military applications, the achievement has implications for other sectors needing robust and secure cross-border communications, such as emergency response and public safety.
"This trial marks a significant milestone in showcasing the dual-use possibilities of 5G for defence while enhancing communication capabilities within the NATO domain.
"We are delighted to have partnered with Nokia and Telia on this project and are eager to explore further opportunities for integrating 5G into our operations."
The trial's success was the collaboration between Nokia, Telia and the Finnish Defence Forces.
Jari Collin, Chief Technology Officer at Telia Finland, emphasised the importance of partnerships in driving innovation, "5G and network slicing enable secure, mission-critical communications. In collaboration with the Finnish Defence Forces and Nokia, we are pioneering in using commercial technology for critical defence communications.
"The trial meets the Defence Forces' needs and proves that commercial 5G networks can be utilised also in this domain."
Implications for future applications
The success of this trial paves the way for broader applications of 5G SA slicing technology. Demonstrating its ability to provide seamless connectivity across national borders sets a precedent for future interoperable communication systems that can support national security operations and civilian use cases.
As geopolitical tensions rise alongside increasing cyber threats, robust communication systems like this one are becoming indispensable.
The trial further complements recent developments in military communication technologies by companies like Telenor, which has been exploring high-frequency solutions independent of traditional infrastructure such as satellites or GPS systems.
Nokia, Telia and the Finnish Defence Forces' successful cross-border handover of a 5G SA slice marks a transformative moment in leveraging commercial 5G technology for defence applications. It highlights how next-generation infrastructure can meet the demands of modern coalition missions while opening new avenues for innovation in other critical sectors.
The achievement strengthens NATO-aligned communication capabilities and demonstrates how commercial technologies can adapt to meet specialised operational needs.
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