Nokia, Telia and Finnish Defense Forces test 5G standalone slice handover across borders

Espoo, Finland – Nokia, Telia, and the Finnish Defense Forces have successfully conducted the world's first seamless 5G standalone slice handover between multiple countries in a live network. The trial, carried out in Finland in March, marks a significant milestone in advancing critical 5G capabilities for defense and other mission-critical industries.

The test, conducted as part of a Nordic exercise with the Finnish Defense Forces, demonstrated a continuous and secure data connection over a 5G standalone slice while moving across three separate networks in three different countries. This capability is crucial for modern defense forces, as military personnel increasingly operate in coalitions beyond their national territories while requiring uninterrupted access to mission-critical applications and services.

"This trial marks a significant milestone in showcasing the dual-use possibilities of 5G for defense while also enhancing communication capabilities within the NATO domain," said Major General Jarmo Vähätiitto of the Finnish Defence Command. "We are delighted to have partnered with Nokia and Telia on this project."

Jari Collin, CTO at Telia Finland, noted that 5G and network slicing enable secure, mission-critical communications and that pioneering the use of commercial technology for defense communications is a key achievement.

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, confirmed that seamless 5G slice continuity over country borders is a breakthrough for defense operations, enabling secure and reliable communications for collaborative missions extending beyond national territories.

The trial utilized Nokia's 5G Core Software as a Service (SaaS) and AirScale 5G base stations connected to Telia's commercial network. Nokia's intelligent network management system, MantaRay NM, provided a consolidated network view for optimized monitoring and management.