5G regulation and law in Sweden

5G deployment is underway in Sweden. In October 2023, 92% of the population had coverage from 5G networks.

The government has not imposed any requirements on operators regarding the deployment of 5G, but there are coverage requirements in various frequency bands in order to improve mobile coverage in Sweden. There are no specific licence conditions for the roll-out of 5G.

Operators Tele2, Telenor and Telia all aim to provide 99% of the population access to 5G by the end of 2025.

However, deployment on the SA 5G networks has been slow.

Ericsson, Hi3G Access and media production company Mobilelinks enabled 5G live media broadcasting from the lead car during the June 2024 Stockholm Marathon. The Broadcast marked the first deployment of network slicing in Sweden in a commercial network and was delivered via a dedicated slice of Hi3G’s 5G SA network. 

As a new partner for Stockholm Live from January 2025, Hi3G Access intends to equip the renamed 3Arena (previously Tele2 Arena) with the 5G SA technology that enables 5G slicing.

Starting 1 January 2023, companies have been able to  apply for local licences to use radio transmitters in the 3.7 GHz and 26 GHz bands, which may be used for 5G. This enables local 5G networks in industrial sites, mines, harbours, hospitals and other special premises. 

In the 700 MHz band, which is compatible with 5G, Telia Sverige has an obligation to use SEK 300m (USD 27.5m) of the licence fee to extend coverage in certain areas specified by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority. These areas are characterised by their current lack of coverage for call and data services (less than 10 Mbit/s) and their location, such as roads, housing areas and leisure areas.

Public tenders awarded spectrum license

2018: Auction for 700 MHz band completed in December.

2021: Auction for 3.5 GHz (including 3.4-3.8 GHz) band and 2.3 GHz band took place.

2023: Auction for 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz band took place.

The 1800 MHz band is expected to be subject for tender in q4 of 2025.

25.1-27.5 GHz band will be opened for block permission in 2025 or later.

The terms of the licenses are as follows:

• 700 MHz band – 31 December 2040
• 900 Mhz band – 31 December 2048
• 2,1 Ghz Band – 31 December 2050
• 2,3 GHz Band – 31 December 2045
• 2.6 Ghz Band – 31 December 2050
• 3.5 Ghz band – 31 December 2045

Criteria

The 700 MHz band auction

To participate in the auction, applicants needed to apply no later than 5 November 2018. Other criteria included:

• that the applicant was not insolvent,
• that bids entered in the auction originated from the applicant,
• that the applicant was not closely related to another applicant, and
• that, at the time of  application and during the auction, the applicant complied with relevant provisions in the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority’s regulations and the general invitation.

The 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz band auction

To participate in the auction, applicants needed to apply no later than 30 June 2020. Other criteria included:

• that the applicant was not insolvent,
• that bids entered in the auction originated from the applicant,
• that the applicant was not closely related to another applicant,
• that at the time of  application and during the auction the applicant complied with applicable provisions in the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority’s regulations and the general invitation, and
• that it could be assumed that radio use was not going to harm Sweden’s security interests.

The 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz band auction

To participate in the auction, applicants needed to confirm their application no later than 17 May 2023. Other criteria included:

• that bids entered in the auction originated from the applicant,
• that two or more bidders could not cooperate in their bidding,
• that, at the time of application and during the auction, the applicant complied with applicable provisions in the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority’s regulations and the general invitation, and
• that it could be assumed that radio use was not going to harm Sweden’s security interests.

License conditions

The 700 MHz band auction

The licences were accompanied by partially different conditions, although many were alike. Some of the conditions are mentioned below.

• shared use. The frequency space awarded may be shared with others, provided that the licence holder is not exposed to harmful disturbance.
• providers may not cause any interference, and must remedy any interference reported by permanent residents to their terrestrial television in the 470-694 MHz frequency band.
• coordination with the Swedish Armed Forces when building new or changing current installations.
• Telia Sverige’s licence was combined with an obligation to extend coverage for call and data services to at least 10 Mbit/s in areas specified by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (see answer to question 4).

The 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz band auction

The licences had partially different conditions depending on frequency ranges. Many of the conditions were the same, and included:

• Shared use. The frequency space awarded may be shared with others, provided that the licence holder is not exposed to harmful disturbance.
• The licence holders may not cause harmful disturbance to radio use according to existing licences.
• Products from Huawei or ZTE are not allowed in central functions for radio use in the frequency bands. Functions in the radio access network, transmission network, core network, operation and maintenance network are considered central functions.

The 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz band auction

The licences had partially different conditions depending on their frequency ranges. Many of the conditions were the same, and included:

• Shared use. The frequency space awarded may be shared with others, provided that certain criteria are fulfilled. These include that the shared use does not negatively impact competitionand that the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority approves the shared use.
• Coordination with the Swedish Armed Forces when building new or changing current installations.
• The license holders can coordinate how technical demands shall be fulfilled.
• The licence holders may not cause harmful disturbance to third parties with their coordination.

Price and calculation

The 700 MHz band auction

The auction was performed in two phases. In the main phase, the licences were auctioned without specific frequencies. In the assignment stage, the frequencies were specified in a concluding single placement round. The lowest bid for FDD 2 x 10 MHz with coverage obligation was SEK 200m (USD 18.36m)and SEK 100m (USD 9.18m) for FDD 2 x 5 MHz. The outcome of the auction was:

• Telia Sverige: 2 x 10 MHz FDD with coverage obligation for SEK 1.383bn (USD 127m) in the frequency range 713-723 MHz and 768-778 MHz.
• Net4Mobility: 2 x 5 MHz FDD for SEK 721m (USD 66.18m)  in the frequency range 723-728 MHz and 778-783 MHz.
• Net4Mobility: 2 x 5 MHz FDD for SEK 721m (USD 66.18m)  in the frequency range 728-733 MHz and 783-788 MHz.

The 3.5 and 2.3 GHz band auction

The 3.5 GHz auction had 2 phases. The first phase was divided into 16 blocks of 20 MHz and auctioned in a clock auction. The lowest eligible bid for a block was SEK 100m. The second phase determined which specific frequency range each license would have. The outcome of the auction was:

• Telia Sverige: 120 MHz in the 3500-3620 MHz space for SEK 760.25m (USD 69.8m).
• Net4Mobility: 100 MHz in the 3620-3720 MHz space for SEK 665.5m (USD 61m).
• Hi3G Access: 100 MHz in the 3400-3500 MHz space for SEK 491.25m (USD 45m).

The 2.3 GHz band was performed as a second price auction with a minimum bidding requirement of SEK 400m. If there were several eligible bids, the highest bidder would win. The outcome of the auction was:

• Teracom: 80 MHz in the 2300-2380 MHz space for SEK 400m (USD 36.7m).

The 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz band auction

The auction for 900 MHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz band lasted for 3 days and had 26 clock rounds. The auction reached a total sum of SEK 4.23bn (USD 388m).

For the 900 MHz band there were 5 blocks of 2 x 5 MHz each which had a lowest eligible bid of SEK 150m (USD 13.8m) and 1 block of 2 x 10 MHz that had no lowest eligible bid that were auctioned out. There were three actors who purchased space in the auction:

• Telia Sverige: 2 x 15 MHZ for SEK 833.18m (USD 76.46m).
• Hi3G Access: 2 x 10 MHz for SEK 701.56m (USD 64.38m).
• Net4Mobility: 2 x 10 MHz for SEK 755.45m (USD 69.3m).

For the 2.1 GHz band there were 12 blocks of 2 x 5 MHz each being auctioned out. The lowest eligible bid for each block was SEK 35m. The outcome of the auction was:

• Telia Sverige: 2 x 20 for SEK 190.47m (USD 17.48m)
• Hi3G Access: 2 x 20 MHz for SEK 190.47m (USD 17.48m)
• Net4Mobility: 2 x 20 MHz for SEK 190.47m (USD 17.48m)

For 2.6 GHz band there were 14 blocks of 2 x 5 MHz each being auctioned out and 4 blocks of 10 MHz Time Division Duplex space. The lowest eligible bid for each block was SEK 35m. The outcome of the auction was:

• Telia Sverige: 2 x 30 MHz for SEK 528.82m (USD 48.53m).
• Hi3G Access: 2 x 10 MHz and 40 MHz (TDD) for SEK 319.47m (USD 29.3m).
• Net4Mobility: 2 x 30 MHz for SEK 528.82m (USD 48.53m.

Implementation issues and non-compliance

There have been delays to the implementation of 5G projects.

The first awarded spectrum, in the 700 MHz band, was delayed due to the government’s amending of the  legal conditions.

The Swedish Electronic Communications Act was then amended to protect Sweden’s national security interests, delaying new spectrum licences in the 3.5 GHz band.

Telecom operators have also encountered delivery problems, causing further delays to 5G implementation.

There are no known decisions regarding non-compliance with 5G concessions obligations. However, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority has previously initiated a supervision order in connection with 5G deployment, as described below.

In May 2020, Tele2 Sverige rolled out its 5G network across the three largest cities in Sweden. After receiving notification that the launch might constitute an unauthorised transfer/lease of awarded licences to use radio transmitters according to Chapter 3 Section 23-24 in the previous Swedish Electronics Communications Act (2003:389), the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority initiated supervision.

Net4Mobility, owned by Tele2 Sverige and Telenor Sverige, provided Tele2 Sverige with network capacity by using radio transmitters in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band. Since licences to use radio transmitters in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band had not been awarded for Net4Mobility but solely for Tele2 Sverige (3640-3660 MHz), Telenor Sverige (3620-3640 MHz) and Celestine Hill Communications (3660-3680 MHz, 3680-3700 MHz and 3760-3780 MHz), Net4Mobility was informed that its actions might be in breach of the previous Swedish Electronics Communications Act (2003:389). Shortly thereafter, the licence holders submitted applications for the leasing/transfer of the licences to Net4Mobility. The applications were later approved by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority.

Implementation has, however, progressed substantially over the last few years. For example, Telia Sverige now claims to reach 90% of the Swedish population with its 5G network, and aims to reach 99% in 2025. Further, Swedish 5G reach in the countryside has increased from 29% in 2022 to 67% in 2023.

The Swedish Government has initiated an evaluation to explore how Sweden can speed up 5G development. The goal is to promote equal conditions for work and business development in the entire country.

See also question 8.

Future relevant tenders will be the 1800 MHz band and the 25.1-27.5 GHz band which will be opened for block permission in 2025 or later, according to the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority.

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority has also adopted a spectrum plan for non-commercial wide-scale 5G testing. Companies may apply for a test licence in certain frequency bands.

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority in 2024 published a spectrum-policy, which primarily targets the following areas:

• international harmonisation and standardising;
• spectrum plans;
• right of use, conditions and allocation methods; and
• sharing and secondary trading.

This policy replaced the previous spectrum strategy from 2014.

No specific rules concerning 5G have been drafted in Sweden.

There are no known 5G network sharing or spectrum agreements or regulations in place.

However, Tele2 Sverige and Telenor Sverige established Net4Mobility in 2009 to jointly build and operate a national 4G network. They chose to continue and further develop their partnership to include 5G.

General rules for granting competitors access to 5G networks appear in the Swedish Electronics Communications Act (2022:482). 

According to Chapter 5, Section 1, in the Swedish Electronics Communications Act (2022:482), an operator of a public electronic communications network must negotiate interconnection in good faith with a company that provides or intends to provide publicly available electronic communications that are not number-independent interpersonal communications services.

A number-independent interpersonal communications services means an interpersonal communications service which does not connect with publicly assigned numbering resources, namely, a number or numbers in national or international numbering plans, or which does not enable communications with a number or numbers in national or international numbering plans. In short and for example, messaging services in internet-based applications or linked to social media.

If the negotiations do not result in an agreement, the company must approach the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority for dispute resolution in accordance with the Swedish Electronics Communications Act (2022:482), Chapter 11 - Section 14.

In such cases, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority would likely set binding terms and conditions between the parties. 

In a ruling on 22 June 2022 (Kammarrätten i Stockholm, mål nr 5222-21, 5223-21), the Administrative Court of Appeal upheld the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority’s decision to combine licences to use radio transmitters with a ban on using Huawei products in fundamental functions in the 5G network. Products from ZTE were also banned.

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority’s  decision was made after the Swedish Security Service and the Swedish Armed Forces concluded that using Huawei Technologies products in 5G infrastructure could cause considerable and manifest risks to national security. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority shall consult with the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Security Service in matters relating to radio transmission licenses, according to Chapter 3, Section 13, in the Swedish Regulation on Electronic Communications (2022:511).

There is a pending dispute between Huawei and Sweden at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes regarding the exclusion of Huawei from the deployment of 5G in Sweden (ICSID  Case No. ARB/22/2).  The tribunal has permtted the European Commission to intervene in the proceedings as a non-disputing party.

Sweden and the US have issued a joint statement on cooperation in advanced wireless technologies, which expresses a common will to intensify cooperation between the countries to ensure that 6G technology is transparent, secure and developed in line with democratic values.

The Swedish Government has awarded Vinnova (the Swedish innovation agency) SEK 250m (USD 23m) and the Swedish Research Council SEK 140m (USD 12.8m) for the mission to strengthen fundamental 6G research in Sweden for 2024-2026.

In 2024, Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council also signed a memorandum of understanding with the US National Science Foundation for research on 6G and other subjects.

Further, Luleå University of Technology is the first university in Sweden to obtain a frequency licence from the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency to conduct 6G tests in a simulated mining environment. The 6G network is currently being installed in the underground lab at Luleå University of Technology.