Ericsson, Telia and partners invest SEK 300 million in Digital Arena Sweden for 5G 6G and AI testing

Ericsson and Telia Lead SEK 300 Million Investment in National Test Center

A consortium led by Ericsson and Telia has launched Digital Arena Sweden, a national test center in Sweden designed to accelerate the country's digital competitiveness through advanced testing of 5G 6G and AI technologies1

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. The initiative represents an investment exceeding SEK 300 million and brings together major industry and research partners including RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, its subsidiary AstaZero, Future by Lund, Lund University, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology2

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. Supported by Vinnova, Sweden's innovation agency, through the Avancerad Digitalisering innovation program, the facility aims to provide Swedish industry with early access to advanced digital solutions years before they reach commercial deployment.

Pre-Commercial 6G Test Environment Targets Cross-Industry Applications

Under the Digital Arena Sweden framework, Ericsson will establish a pre-commercial 6G test environment in collaboration with Lund University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology1

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. This research infrastructure builds upon NorthStar, an existing Telia-Ericsson innovation program that provides enterprise access to advanced 5G capabilities. The test center is structured to serve industries ranging from mining and transport to defense and medtech, enabling them to explore future 6G applications in a secure environment. Erik Ekudden, CTO at Ericsson, emphasized the strategic importance: "By creating one of the world's first test environments for the combination of 5G, 6G and AI, several years before the technology becomes commercial, we are ensuring that Swedish industry and research remain at the absolute forefront"2

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AI Agents Robotics and Autonomous Systems Take Center Stage

Digital Arena Sweden will focus on integrating AI-driven connectivity solutions with next-generation networks, creating opportunities to develop and validate AI agents robotics and autonomous systems1

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. The facility will establish a shared digital portal and common framework for testing, lowering barriers to entry for advanced technologies across the broader Swedish innovation ecosystem. Ekudden noted this represents "an opportunity to define, together with our partners, how a connected society will function, where AI agents, physical AI (robotics), and autonomous systems can be developed and validated to meet the future"2

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. Data and insights generated at the center are intended to contribute to the global 6G standardization process, positioning Sweden as a contributor to international telecommunications standards.

Digital Security and Sovereignty Drive Strategic Vision

Anders Olsson, CEO of Telia Sweden, highlighted how the test center addresses critical concerns around digital security and sovereignty. "Through the new test center, we are opening up for more companies to take part in the latest 5G technology and AI, where we can meet high demands for security and sovereignty," Olsson stated1

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. The facility aims to enable enterprises to harness connectivity and AI to innovate safely and securely, accelerating the timeline from concept to commercial deployment. This focus on digital security and sovereignty becomes particularly relevant as industries seek to digitize critical operations and products while maintaining control over sensitive data and infrastructure. The announcement coincided with Almedalen 2026, where Ericsson executives discussed the strategic role of connectivity in national competitiveness, underscoring how Digital Arena Sweden positions the country to lead in the convergence of telecommunications and artificial intelligence.