Digital Arena Sweden opens advanced test environments for future communication technology
Text and image: Advanced Digitalisation
Sweden has long held a strong position in telecoms and digital infrastructure. Across the country, there are testbeds and research environments where companies can experiment with technology that is not yet available on commercial networks.
The challenge is finding the right one.
"There is already a very strong infrastructure in Sweden today. We shouldn't be building new testbeds, but rather bringing together what already exists, opening them up to industry and creating a clear path in," says Anders Trana at Future by Lund, a project manager working on the digitalisation tracks within the initiative.
Digital Arena Sweden is intended to act as a single point of entry to these environments. The idea is that a company should be able to come with a need or an idea and receive help in understanding where and how it can best be tested.
"Companies shouldn't have to know about every testbed and infrastructure themselves. We need to be able to guide them through the system and help them find the right place."
From individual testbeds to a shared arena
The systemic change, therefore, lies not primarily in new technical infrastructure, but in how existing resources are connected and made accessible.
A digital "one-stop shop" will provide companies with an overview of what is available and a route to support and expertise. If a similar test has already been conducted, the lessons learned can be used to take the next step, rather than starting from scratch.
At the same time, needs vary greatly. A large industrial company with its own R&D department has completely different requirements to a smaller player.
"An important lesson from the preliminary studies is that there is no one-size-fits-all model. We need to tailor the journey from the moment a company arrives until we have identified together what needs to be tested, where it should take place, and what support is required."
Lowering the barriers is particularly important for smaller companies, for whom the cost and complexity of conducting advanced tests can otherwise be a deterrent.
Testing technology before it reaches the market
For industry, the arena also represents an opportunity to get closer to technical development.
New generations of communication networks are driving innovation forward and can be used to, among other things, prioritise different types of traffic, sense the environment, and create entirely new connected services. In some of the test environments, it is also possible to experiment with functionality that is several years ahead of its time.
"We can give industry an insight into things that might be two to six years away. This allows companies to start understanding the technology, testing their services, and preparing long before the solutions are widely available on the market," says Anders Trana.
For the business sector, this can mean an opportunity to develop new products and services earlier – and thus be better equipped when the technology becomes commercially available.
Strengthening Sweden's position
For the arena to function, it is essential that more than just the telecoms industry is involved. Industry, academia, public sector actors, smaller tech companies, and infrastructure experts all need to contribute their different perspectives and experiences.
The ambition also extends beyond Sweden. Through collaborations with equivalent test environments in other countries, Swedish companies will be able to access even more opportunities, while international players are attracted to Swedish testbeds.
"Connected services and telecoms are becoming an increasingly central part of other industries. If we can help companies understand and use the technology sooner, we can also strengthen their competitiveness," Anders points out.
Digital Arena Sweden is, of course, about more than just making it easier to carry out tests. The core objectives are to create a cohesive system where Swedish industry can move more quickly from new technology to practical application – and to ensure that Sweden remains at the forefront as the next generation of digital infrastructure takes shape.
Future by Lund/Lund University is leading the Digital Arena Sweden project in partnership with Telia, Ericsson, and RISE’s technical infrastructure facility AstaZero. The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with a wide range of partners from industry, academia and the public sector. The project is funded through the Advanced Digitalisation Innovation and Collaboration Programme, with support from Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency.
Digital Arena Sweden is a SEK 300+ million investment in a new national test centre for 5G, 6G and AI. The aim is to strengthen Sweden’s innovation capacity and global competitiveness by giving Swedish companies a significant technological advantage and shortening the journey from innovation to fully developed solutions.