The deployment included Nokia’s 5G AirScale radio products and 5G Standalone Core technology, tailored specifically for defence applications. These technologies enabled improved situational awareness and seamless coordination among units from various participating nations.
Held in Bardufoss, above the Arctic Circle, Joint Viking 2025 brought together more than 10,000 troops from Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, The Netherlands, and Norway. The exercise is held biennially to test Norway’s ability to receive allied reinforcements and to strengthen NATO’s northern flank.
The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA), working closely with national mobile operators, played a central role in the technology’s implementation. Nokia and Norwegian energy and telecom group Lyse recently signed a strategic agreement to further develop tactical communication systems for Norway.
“We collaborate with the industry to develop innovative defense solutions based on commercial technologies. A prime example is advanced software functionality, which enables Nokia’s 5G systems to operate in GNSS-denied environments, along with their next-generation radio equipment, engineered for reduced size, weight, and power,” said Kennet Nomeland, Radio Architect and liaison for Norway’s Ministry of Defense in the 5G COMPAD programme.
“Nokia’s 5G technology was instrumental in the success of the Joint Viking exercise, enhancing the Norwegian Armed Forces’ readiness for complex joint operations in challenging conditions,” Nomeland added. The capabilities demonstrated during the exercise are seen as a key step forward in modernising military communication infrastructures.
“The scalable, secure and reliable connectivity that 5G provides has an important role in strengthening the tactical communication capabilities of defense forces,” said Giuseppe Targia, Head of Space and Defense at Nokia. “The successful trial of 5G in the field at Joint Viking exercise is evidence of Nokia’s continued progress in the defense sector and highlights Norwegian Armed Forces’ position as a leader in deploying advanced communication technologies for tactical operations.”
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