Telia launched Telia Critical IoT Connectivity in Sweden, its first commercially available service using 5G standalone (SA) technology.
The offering is available starting on the day of the announcement and is aimed at IoT deployments that require secure, stable, and predictable connectivity.
5G standalone capabilities Telia says it is using
Telia says the service is built on 5G standalone (SA) so it can leverage network slicing, ultra-low latency, and increased security. The company also says 5G SA is optimized for video and data and supports smarter network traffic management, with reliable performance for key applications during peak times.
The company further states that 5G SA is already deployed across Telia’s Swedish 5G footprint, and that with 5G SA the radio access network connects directly to a 5G core without relying on 4G technology.
Target sectors and NorthStar origin story
Telia lists emergency services, energy, transport, industry, and healthcare as target IoT sectors for Telia Critical IoT Connectivity. Telia also says the service was developed using experience and insights from its NorthStar 5G innovation program, launched in 2023.
NorthStar connects a purpose-built 5G innovation network with Telia’s public 5G network, with the stated purpose of giving partners early access to advanced 5G capabilities. Telia names the Swedish Armed Forces and mining company Boliden as NorthStar partners.
Coverage claims and Telia’s B2B positioning
Telia says its Swedish 5G network covers 99.9% of the population and more than 94% of the country’s land area. The company also says Sweden’s 5G network was named Sweden’s best mobile network for the sixth year in a row, citing umlaut 2025.
Fredrik Stenberg, Head of B2B at Telia Sweden, said the company is creating conditions for organizations to use new digital solutions in the most critical parts of their operations without compromising security or control.