Telia and Ericsson begin outdoor 6G trials in Sweden
November 2, 2026 10.41 Europe/London By Julian Clover


Telia and Ericsson have launched outdoor 6G field trials in Sweden, testing network performance ahead of an expected commercial rollout around 2030–2032.

The trials use Ericsson’s pre-standard 6G technology in the upper 6 GHz band. Engineers are assessing coverage, signal performance, uplink capacity, reliability and latency to inform future network design and deployment.

The work forms part of a joint Swedish 6G roadmap covering technology development, industry collaboration, security and spectrum planning. Initial capabilities are expected to become available to partners in the companies’ NorthStar innovation programme from 2029.

Anders Olsson, Head of Telia Sweden, said: “Our investments in robust, secure and comprehensive 5G networks serve as a natural stepping-stone towards the next generation of connectivity: 6G.”

The companies envisage applications including autonomous transport, industrial robotics and critical infrastructure monitoring. Combining connectivity with AI, distributed computing and integrated sensing could enable networks to detect and respond to their physical surroundings.

Businesses, researchers and public-sector organisations will be able to explore potential applications through initiatives including NorthStar and Digital Arena Sweden.

Telia and Ericsson will also assess future spectrum requirements, including the 6 GHz and 600 MHz bands, to address anticipated capacity and coverage needs. Telia plans to convene stakeholders to help define a national 6G security architecture, incorporating cybersecurity and resilience from the outset.

Patrick Johansson, Ericsson’s Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “Sweden and the Nordic region have a proud tradition of being early adopters of mobility. Today’s announcement indicates our companies’ intention to continue that tradition.”