Telia lights Norwegian SA 5G network

Telia has switched on a commercial standalone (SA) 5G network in Norway, positioning itself as an early mover just days after announcing a radio access network-sharing deal with local operator Ice. The company finished rolling out the required infrastructure in 2024 and is now marketing what it calls Advanced 5G, built on a dedicated core network.

Telia says the SA setup will improve connectivity for industrial users, emergency services, healthcare providers and remote-controlled manufacturing, using features such as network slicing and lower latency. It expects latency below 10 milliseconds, compared with at least 15 milliseconds on non-standalone 5G. Telia Norway head Bjorn Ivar Moen compared the new network to a fast-track lane at an airport, arguing demand is rising as mobile networks carry more critical services. This is Telia’s second major network move in Norway this month, following its RAN merger plan with Ice aimed at cutting costs.