New national test center for 5G, 6G, and AI to future-proof Swedish industry
Image credit: NorthStar/AstaZero
Press release:
The test center - Digital Arena Sweden - enables companies and public sector organizations to test advanced digital solutions in real-world environments at an early stage. The tests utilize the latest technological capabilities in 5G, 6G, and AI, with the goal of helping organizations securely adopt new technology by shortening the path from innovation to a finished solution that can then be widely implemented across operations.
Digital Arena Sweden brings together several established initiatives, which now receive financial backing to develop into a national test center and ecosystem accessible to companies of all sizes and across all societal sectors, from startups and tech companies to large industrial corporations. Participating partners include Telia, Ericsson, RISE technology infrastructure and subsidiary AstaZero, Future by Lund, Lund University, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Einride.
– We are proud to be part of driving the future of Swedish industry in a classic Swedish area of strength. This will be a national effort where both academia and major industry players collaborate to give the business community a head start in future communication technology. For us at Future by Lund and Lund University, it is also gratifying that part of the project will be located in Lund, which has a strong history in both communication technologies and innovation, says Anders Trana, Future by Lund and project manager for Digital Arena Sweden.
The test center's foundation consists of digital infrastructure for advanced 5G, IoT, and AI, provided by Telia through its NorthStar innovation program and national 5G network. Additionally, a unique 6G test environment led by Ericsson in collaboration with Lund University and the Royal Institute of Technology is included.
The work is coordinated by the innovation platform Future by Lund, which is also responsible for developing a common digital portal. RISE technology infrastructure AstaZero is an open, independent, and completely unique test environment for future advanced digital solutions. Here, they are responsible for developing common test and measurement methods for the testbed's projects.
Quotes from stakeholders
- Through the new test center, we are opening up opportunities for more companies to access the latest 5G technology and AI, where we can meet high demands for security and sovereignty. This is a prerequisite for connecting and digitizing the most critical parts of operations and products, where the value in terms of efficiency, customer value, and societal benefit is also greatest. This is how we can accelerate efforts to strengthen both Sweden's digital security and competitiveness, says Anders Olsson, CEO of Telia Sweden.
– In Sweden, we have extensive experience in driving technological leadership. 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 ensure that Swedish industry and research remain at the absolute forefront. For Ericsson, this is an opportunity, together with our partners, to define how connected societies will function, where AI agents, physical AI (robotics), and autonomous systems can be developed and validated to meet the future, says Erik Ekudden, CTO, Ericsson.
– Advanced Digitalization aims to promote Sweden's and the industry's ability to develop and utilize future advanced digital solutions. It is particularly gratifying that an initiative like Digital Arena Sweden is now getting started, as real-world test environments are in demand by the industry, increasing the momentum of the digital transformation and strengthening the conditions for many players in a time of rapid technological development, says Pontus de Laval, Chairman Advanced Digitalization.
– The digital transformation is becoming increasingly physical. Automated vehicles, connected systems, and drones place new demands on environments where future technology can be tested, verified, and developed in a safe and reproducible manner. Here, RISE is uniquely positioned through our technology infrastructure AstaZero and our role as a bridge between academia, industry, and the public sector. Through common methods and test environments, we can shorten the path from innovation to solution while strengthening Swedish competitiveness, says Peter Janevik, CEO of RISE technology infrastructure and subsidiary AstaZero.
– Safe and efficient autonomous freight transport is built entirely on trust, which is why robust validation and verification are non-negotiable. Through Digital Arena Sweden, Einride and AstaZero combine their expertise to design test methods tailored for advanced AI and automated transport. Shortening the path from innovation to certified, large-scale operation is exactly what Swedish industry needs to maintain its competitiveness, says Thomas Norén, General Manager Connectivity, Einride
More information about Digital Arena Sweden
The test center consists of four parts.
' Digital infrastructure for 5G and AI – Provided through Telia's national 5G network and the NorthStar innovation program, which is run with Ericsson, and which gives companies access to the latest technical capabilities in areas such as advanced 5G, IoT (connected devices), and sovereign clouds and AI. One area that will be tested is distributed sovereign data processing in the 5G network (Edge) for digital solutions with high demands on security and availability, such as AI services, industrial systems, and power grids.
* Advanced 6G test environment – Ericsson is responsible for this part of the testbed in collaboration with Lund University, Future by Lund, and the Royal Institute of Technology. Here, players from a wide range of industries – such as mining and forestry, the transport sector, medical technology, and the defense industry – will be able to test 6G several years before the technology is commercially available in mobile networks. The goal is to identify concrete areas where 6G can create value – such as AI, robotics, and autonomous systems – and what demands this places on the technology. The experiences and lessons learned from the work in the test center will also be used in the ongoing standardization work around 6G – to ensure that next-generation mobile networks meet the demands of business and society.
* Common platform for testing and evaluation – At RISE technology infrastructure AstaZero, a common methodological framework is being developed with standardized test and measurement methods for the projects within Digital Arena. The result: faster startups, comparable results, and a clearer path from idea to impact.
* A digital entry point for the entire testbed – The Future by Lund Innovation Platform is responsible for managing the testbed and coordinating collaboration with project partners. A key part of their mission will be to develop and manage a digital portal and entry point for the entire testbed – providing a complete overview of its technical capabilities and serving as the contact point for companies and organizations wishing to use it. Other support resources will also be available there, such as a common toolkit for test and measurement methods.
Link to website: www.digitalarenasweden.se