Utilising Tech: Three Sweden Activates 5G SA with Ericsson

Three Sweden has announced the launch of its commercial 5G Standalone (5G SA) network with end-to-end support from Ericsson, delivering new capabilities to consumer and enterprise users. 

The network uses Ericsson’s cloud-native 5G Core and Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions to provide low-latency, high-speed connectivity with improved coverage and capacity.

The launch focuses on urban areas and targets enterprise demand and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband. FWA uses mobile technology to deliver high-speed broadband to homes and businesses as an alternative to cable infrastructure.

Three Sweden works with Ericsson to conduct comprehensive testing of the 5G SA technology before commercial rollout, which takes place in December 2025. The software-driven network supports flexible service delivery and enables new enterprise applications.

Rajib Eklund, Chief Information and Technology Officer, 3 Skandinavien, says: “The launch of our 5G Standalone network is a crucial step forward in delivering enhanced services to our customers and I am proud that we at Three are the first in Sweden to be able to offer this. 

“Ericsson’s 5G technology allows us to significantly improve network efficiency and create tailored connectivity solutions to meet the diverse needs of Swedish businesses and people.”

Targeting enterprises and new mobile use cases

Three Sweden positions the new network to support business users through network slicing. 

A feature like this divides the physical network into virtual segments, each with defined performance for latency, reliability and capacity.

Network slicing allows tailored connectivity for different applications, such as industrial automation, connected devices and IoT. It enables support for business-critical operations where consistent performance is essential.

Using a programmable and cloud-native core, Three delivers adaptable network performance that supports enterprise users and enables next-generation digital services. This approach helps differentiate service quality across industries and use cases.

Niclas Backlund, Head of Sweden and the Baltics at Ericsson, says: “We are proud to partner with Three Sweden to make their 5G Standalone strategy and vision a reality. 

“Powered by Ericsson technology end-to-end, this deployment will help Three Sweden to drive productivity, sustainability and innovation across sectors.”

Efficient architecture supports sustainability goals

Three Sweden’s 5G SA network also focuses on efficiency. 

It is built to improve energy performance per gigabyte compared to previous network generations, which helps reduce environmental impact while meeting increasing data demands.

The cloud-native design allows scalable and efficient use of network resources. 

It supports rapid service deployment, better performance and adaptability to changing user needs. 

This efficiency is essential as mobile networks handle more data and serve more advanced applications.

By deploying Ericsson’s full technology suite, including both hardware and software, Three Sweden gains a next-generation mobile core that supports both everyday consumer use and specialised enterprise services. 

This includes FWA broadband, which delivers secure, high-capacity mobile broadband to households and workplaces without the need for cable installation.

Three Sweden becomes the first operator in the country to offer commercial 5G SA services. The network gives urban users and businesses a new level of mobile connectivity with improved speeds and lower latency.

With the launch, Three strengthens its consumer and enterprise offerings, using advanced mobile infrastructure to support Sweden’s growing demand for fast, reliable and flexible network services.