Nordic 5G Network Infrastructure Market - Forecasts From 2025 To 2030

Description

The Nordic 5G Network Infrastructure Market is expected to rise at a CAGR of 10.77%, attaining USD 2.423 billion in 2030 from USD 1.453 billion in 2025.

Nordic 5G Network Infrastructure Market Key Highlights

• The allocation of mid-band spectrum (3.4-3.8 GHz) across the Nordic region has directly catalyzed multi-year modernization contracts for Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment, driving the core demand for this market segment.
• Regulatory measures in Sweden, allowing enterprises to apply for local licenses in the 3.7 GHz and 26 GHz bands, significantly accelerate the demand for Private 5G Networks infrastructure for industrial and healthcare applications.
• Major telecom operators, including Telia and Telenor, maintain aggressive targets for reaching 99% population coverage with 5G by the end of 2025 in Sweden, mandating sustained capital expenditure into transport/backhaul and edge infrastructure.
• The market is shifting toward 5G Standalone (SA) architecture, exemplified by early trials and commercial uses of network slicing by Hi3G Access in Sweden, creating direct demand for new 5G Core Network and software orchestration solutions.

The Nordic 5G Network Infrastructure Market stands as a globally significant, early-adopter environment characterized by high digital maturity and an imperative for industrial digitalization. This environment creates a robust foundation for the deployment of advanced 5G network components, moving beyond basic enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) coverage to sophisticated enterprise-grade applications. Investment decisions across the region are driven by a dual mandate: extending high-speed consumer connectivity, particularly in sparsely populated areas, and enabling the low-latency, high-reliability services required for Industry 4.0 use cases. Consequently, the market exhibits a sustained appetite for cutting-edge infrastructure solutions, encompassing sophisticated RAN technology, agile 5G core networks, and advanced edge computing capabilities. The inherent characteristics of the Nordic geography and high labor costs necessitate automation and efficiency, solidifying 5G infrastructure as a critical enabler of economic competitiveness.

Nordic 5G Network Infrastructure Market Analysis

Growth Drivers

• Aggressive National 5G Coverage Mandates: Aggressive national 5G coverage mandates imposed by regulators or set as operator targets—such as achieving nearly universal population coverage by 2025 in Sweden and Norway—directly increase the demand for new macro and small-cell RAN equipment and associated backhaul infrastructure. The maturation of the enterprise market for digitalization, particularly in advanced manufacturing and healthcare, acts as a profound catalyst. The verified need for massive machine-type communications (mMTC) and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) in these sectors creates explicit demand for high-density, high-band (mmWave and mid-band) 5G infrastructure, notably for dedicated Private 5G Networks deployments that require specialized edge infrastructure and 5G Core Network capacity. Furthermore, the competitive drive among Nordic Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to be the first to launch commercial 5G Standalone (SA) services directly mandates the procurement and integration of vendor-agnostic 5G core network software and orchestration platforms.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Substantial Capital Expenditure Requirements: A primary challenge involves the substantial capital expenditure required to densify the network with small cells necessary for exploiting high-band spectrum, a prerequisite for meeting the high throughput demands of industrial users. This cost constraint can temper the pace of infrastructure deployment. Conversely, the high concentration of advanced industrial and maritime enterprises in the region presents a unique opportunity. These enterprises require bespoke network capabilities, such as network slicing, that fundamentally increase the average revenue per user (ARPU) for 5G deployments beyond consumer tariffs. This requirement shifts the procurement focus from commodity RAN components toward high-value, software-defined network elements, including virtualized RAN and sophisticated Network Management and Orchestration solutions, creating lucrative avenues for specialized vendors. The opportunity lies in moving from broad public network rollout to targeted, enterprise-specific private network contracts.

Raw Material and Pricing Analysis

The Nordic 5G Network Infrastructure is a physical market, heavily reliant on sophisticated hardware components. The construction of RAN elements, including base stations and antennas, is dependent on the stable supply of specialized metals, such as gallium and indium, which are critical for high-performance semiconductor and filter manufacturing. These materials often present supply vulnerabilities due to their co- or by-product status in mining and the concentration of refining capacity in specific geopolitical regions, particularly China. Any supply chain disruption or geopolitical friction directly impacts the input cost of 5G hardware for Nordic operators and vendors. This material dependency and geographic concentration exert upward pricing pressure on finished goods, motivating operators to prioritize virtualization (vRAN) as a strategy to optimize hardware expenditure and extend the lifespan of existing infrastructure.

Supply Chain Analysis

The global supply chain for 5G network infrastructure is complex, centered on three key production hubs: East Asia (for passive components, semiconductors, and sub-assemblies), Europe (for high-level systems integration and core network software), and North America (for specialized chipsets and cloud infrastructure). Nordic market players, while benefiting from the local presence of major vendors like Ericsson and Nokia, remain critically dependent on the integrity of the Asian and North American components supply lines. Logistical complexities arise from the vast geographical spread of the Nordic region, requiring robust and high-capacity transport/backhaul infrastructure—often fiber or microwave—to connect base stations, particularly in sparsely populated northern areas. Any delay in the shipment of active electronics or specialized antennas directly constrains the operators' ability to meet their rapid 5G rollout deadlines, forcing a greater reliance on buffer stock and local systems integration capabilities.

Government Regulations

In-Depth Segment Analysis

By End-User: Manufacturing and Industrial Automation

The Manufacturing and Industrial Automation sector represents the high-value segment requiring advanced 5G infrastructure. Industrial applications, such as real-time quality control, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and digital twins, cannot function reliably on conventional Wi-Fi or public mobile networks due to latency and security constraints. This necessity drives the explicit demand for Private 5G Networks infrastructure. For instance, the verified deployment of 5G-enabled AI applications at an ABB drives factory in Helsinki, completed in 2019, demonstrated the critical requirement for high-speed, secure connectivity to enable real-time feedback and quality assurance systems. This requires core network elements that support network slicing and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) to guarantee URLLC performance metrics, shifting investment from generic RAN to integrated, dedicated end-to-end 5G solutions tailored for factory floors.

By Spectrum Band: Mid-band (1-6 GHz)

The Mid-band spectrum (specifically 3.4-3.8 GHz) is the foundational "goldilocks" segment and the primary current growth driver for RAN and core network components. This band offers the optimal balance of capacity and coverage, making it suitable for both broad urban population coverage and initial enterprise deployments. The completion of mid-band auctions across Nordic countries, such as Sweden’s 2021 allocation, immediately generated multi-billion-dollar contracts for the procurement and deployment of mid-band-capable base stations and antenna systems from vendors like Ericsson. This deployment activity necessitates significant investment in the 5G Core Network to handle the substantially higher data throughput compared to legacy networks. The mid-band is the essential bridge that enables operators to meet initial consumer data demands while simultaneously offering the capacity-centric platform required for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), a critical application in the Nordics’ vast rural areas.

Competitive Environment and Analysis

The Nordic 5G Network Infrastructure Market is a duopoly dominated by two major, geographically co-located global vendors, both of whom maintain deep, long-standing relationships with the region’s Tier-1 Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). Competition centers less on price for core components and more on technological differentiation, total cost of ownership (TCO) over a multi-year deployment cycle, and the strength of the local R&D and support ecosystem. The emerging threat is from open-source and virtualized network solutions, driving market expansion for Open RAN-compliant hardware and software vendors.

Ericsson

Ericsson, headquartered in Sweden, holds a critical strategic position as a preferred technology partner for major Nordic operators. The company's strategic positioning is predicated on its end-to-end 5G portfolio, encompassing RAN, 5G Core, and transport solutions. A key strategic asset is the Ericsson Radio System portfolio, which provides comprehensive 5G Radio Access Network deployment and 4G network modernization capabilities. The company maintains its market presence through multi-year, large-scale contracts, such as the confirmed alliance with Telia to deploy next-generation 5G networks across Sweden and Estonia by 2025, which includes the modernization of 4G networks across 10,000 cellular sites. This strategy secures large-scale, long-term demand for its integrated hardware and software solutions.

Nokia Corporation

Nokia, based in Finland, leverages its strong heritage in network infrastructure and its recent emphasis on private wireless solutions to capture market share. Its strategic positioning focuses on delivering secure, reliable end-to-end networks, particularly for the high-growth enterprise segment. The company has a diverse product offering, including its AirScale RAN portfolio and proprietary core network solutions, which support both Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) deployments. A verifiable move in this direction is the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in September 2025 to advance defense communications with 5G technology, explicitly aiming to simplify the deployment of 5G in tactical systems and explore 6G integration, directly addressing the demand for secure, mission-critical private networks.

Recent Market Developments

• September 2025: Nokia and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on enhancing tactical communications solutions for the defense sector. The agreement focuses on combining Nokia's commercial 4G, 5G, and private wireless technologies with Kongsberg’s military tactical expertise to deliver secure, high-performance networks, directly leading to new demand for private wireless infrastructure in the defense and government end-user segments.
• June 2025: The Ericsson Mobility Report highlighted that more than half (51 percent) of global Communication Service Providers (CSPs) with Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) offerings now include speed-based options, a significant increase from 40 percent in the same period in 2024. This data validates the growing monetization appeal of 5G FWA, directly increasing the demand for 5G mid-band RAN and high-capacity transport infrastructure from Nordic operators to expand FWA service tiers and coverage.
• September 2024: Ericsson, in partnership with other global telecom operators, announced the launch of a new venture focused on making advanced 5G network capabilities easily accessible to developers via Network APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of 5G Standalone features like network slicing, which generates new demand for Ericsson's 5G Core Network and software orchestration portfolio to enable API functionality and new B2B services.

Nordic 5G Network Infrastructure Market Segmentation

• BY COMPONENT
  • RAN
  • 5G Core Network
  • Transport or Backhaul Network
  • Edge Infrastructure
  • Network Management and Orchestration
  • Others
• BY SPECTRUM BAND
  • Low-band (<1 GHz)
  • Mid-band (1-6 GHz)
  • High-band/ mmWave (>24 GHz)
• BY DEPLOYMENT TYPE
  • Public Carrier Networks
  • Private 5G Networks
  • Shared Infrastructure
  • Hybrid
• BY DEPLOYMENT MODE
  • Standalone
  • Non-Standalone
• BY END-USER
  • Telecom Operators
  • Manufacturing and Industrial Automation
  • Transportation & Logistics
  • Energy and Utilities
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Retail and Hospitality
  • Public Sector
  • Other Enterprises

Table Of Contents

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2. MARKET SNAPSHOT

2.1. Market Overview

2.2. Market Definition

2.3. Scope of the Study

2.4. Market Segmentation

3. BUSINESS LANDSCAPE

3.1. Market Drivers

3.2. Market Restraints

3.3. Market Opportunities

3.4. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.5. Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.6. Policies and Regulations

3.7. Strategic Recommendations

4. TECHNOLOGICAL OUTLOOK

5. NORDICS 5G NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET BY COMPONENT

5.1. Introduction

5.2. RAN

5.3. 5G Core Network

5.4. Transport or Backhaul Network

5.5. Edge Infrastructure

5.6. Network Management and Orchestration

5.7. Others

6. NORDICS 5G NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET BY SPECTRUM BAND

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Low-band (<1 GHz)

6.3. Mid-band (1-6 GHz)

6.4. High-band/ mmWave (>24 GHz)

7. NORDICS 5G NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET BY DEPLOYMENT TYPE

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Public Carrier Networks

7.3. Private 5G Networks

7.4. Shared Infrastructure

7.5. Hybrid

8. NORDICS 5G NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET BY DEPLOYMENT MODE

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Standalone

8.3. Non-Standalone

9. NORDICS 5G NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET BY END-USER

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Telecom Operators

9.3. Manufacturing and Industrial Automation

9.4. Transportation & Logistics

9.5. Energy and Utilities

9.6. Healthcare

9.7. Education

9.8. Retail and Hospitality

9.9. Public Sector

9.10. Other Enterprises

10. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS

10.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

10.2. Market Share Analysis

10.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

10.4. Competitive Dashboard

11. COMPANY PROFILES

11.1. Nokia Corporation

11.2. Ericsson

11.3. Cisco Systems International BV

11.4. Mavenir Systems, Inc.

11.5. Parallel Wireless, Inc.

11.6. Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS)

11.7. Microsoft Corporation

11.8. Oracle Corporation

11.9. Airspan Networks Holdings Inc.

11.10. CommScope Holding Company

12. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF TABLES

Companies Profiled

Nokia Corporation

Ericsson

Cisco Systems International BV

Mavenir Systems, Inc.

Parallel Wireless, Inc.

Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS)

Microsoft Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Airspan Networks Holdings Inc.

11.10. CommScope Holding Company

Related Reports