Are Nordic operators celebrating 5G availability?

Analysis of Speedtest Intelligence ® data confirms that Nordic operators have much to celebrate. In Q4 2024, Nordic countries claimed three of the top five positions in Europe for 5G Availability—the percentage of users with 5G-capable devices spending most of their time connected to 5G networks.

Is the Nordic region a good place to invest in 5G?

Home to two of the world’s largest radio vendors, Ericsson and Nokia, and characterised by markedly higher operator profitability than much of the rest of Europe, the Nordic region remains a key bright spot in Europe’s struggle for competitiveness against the Middle East, North America and Asia in 5G.

How have Nordic countries positioned themselves in the 5G cycle?

Nordic countries have distinguished themselves in the 5G cycle through the timely release of mid-band spectrum assets, the development of innovative government policies to enable widespread rollout beyond core urban centres and a unique appetite for network sharing.

Is 5G a key to digital transformation in Nordic countries?

Nordic countries have consistently prioritised 5G access as a cornerstone of ambitious national digital transformation strategies. For example, the Norwegian government has introduced a range of policy measures aimed at achieving its goal of becoming the “world’s most digitalised country by 2030”.

How much does 5G cost in Nordic countries?

Operators in all four Nordic countries benefited from the early allocation of dedicated low-band spectrum for 5G in the 700 MHz band (first assigned in Finland in 2016 and most recently in Norway in 2019) and relatively low spectrum acquisition costs (e.g., €0.218 MHz/pop in Finland versus €0.701 MHz/pop in France).

Will Nordic countries become world leaders in 5G?

As the development of fifth generation wireless systems (5G) breaks through, the Nordic countries will be at the forefront of that development to become world leaders in using 5G technology for the development and digitalisation of all sectors of society.