In a landmark development for mission-critical communications, Nokia, Telia, and the Finnish Defense Forces have successfully completed the world’s first seamless handover of a 5G Standalone (SA) network slice across multiple national borders. Conducted in March during a Nordic military exercise, the live trial marked a major milestone in utilizing commercial 5G networks for advanced defense applications.

The test demonstrated continuous, secure, and high-performance connectivity as users transitioned across three distinct 5G networks in three different countries — proving the viability of 5G SA slicing for international defense missions.

As military and coalition operations increasingly span national boundaries, ensuring uninterrupted, mission-critical communication has never been more vital. This trial confirmed that a single 5G network slice can maintain reliable service across borders, addressing a critical operational need for modern defense and emergency response scenarios.

“This trial marks a significant milestone in showcasing the dual-use capabilities of 5G technology for defense while also enhancing interoperability within the NATO framework,” said Major General Jarmo Vähätiitto, Chief of C5 at the Finnish Defense Command. “We are proud to have collaborated with Nokia and Telia on this pioneering initiative and look forward to further integrating commercial 5G innovations into our strategic operations.”

The achievement was enabled by Nokia’s Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions, its cutting-edge AirScale base stations powered by ReefShark System-on-Chip technology, and its MantaRay NM intelligent network management platform. These technologies ensured centralized visibility, control, and seamless service continuity — all essential components for mission-critical use cases.

“5G and network slicing are transforming how we deliver secure, real-time communications in critical sectors,” said Jari Collin, CTO of Telia Finland. “This trial exemplifies how commercial 5G infrastructure can be harnessed to meet the demanding requirements of defense communications, providing new levels of resilience, mobility, and security.”

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, added: “Seamless 5G slice continuity across borders is a significant step forward for mission-critical defense operations. It enables secure and uninterrupted communication for joint missions, reinforcing Nokia’s commitment to equipping defense forces with dependable next-generation solutions.”

This cross-border success builds on Nokia’s broader advancements in network slicing, including a separate milestone earlier this year with UAE-based operator e&. In that project, Nokia enabled the world’s first dedicated 5G network slice for gaming, showcasing how slicing can meet the unique performance demands of different applications — from national defense to digital entertainment.

Together, these achievements highlight the accelerating role of 5G network slicing in enabling secure, high-performance communications for both critical infrastructure and emerging commercial services — ensuring connectivity when and where it matters most.

Photo Courtesy: www.pixabay.com/torstensimon