Edge Slicing: Telia, Nokia Deploy 4G, 5G VPN for Sandvik

Telia Company is the first operator in the world to deploy a 4G and 5G virtual private network based on slicing and edge computing for customer use. The virtually implemented 5G private network will connect Sandvik’s test mine in Finland and enable the development of digital mining solutions based on Telia’s edge computing feature.

When creating a virtual 5G private network, a slice of the public 5G network is dedicated to the customer’s critical connectivity needs. With distributed and sliced 5G architecture, different cloud services can be brought to the edge of the network, close to the corporate customer – which improves network efficiency and further lowers the latency of 5G.

Jari Collin, CTO of Telia Finland, says: "We are delighted to be the first operator in the world to deploy this technology together with Nokia and our important customer Sandvik. Our advanced 5G network supports our customers' business by enabling new kinds of services and by making their networks more efficient. In line with our mission to bring the opportunities of 5G to our customers, we will continue to innovate and develop state of the art network applications."

By virtue of the advanced slicing feature of our mobile networks, Telia can offer a safe, reliable, and high-performing virtual private network on public 4G and 5G networks to thousands of business customers for whom an own (physical) network is not a realistic option. The slicing solution also allows us to offer new services together with customers as well as cloud application and infrastructure service providers.

Jani Vilenius, CTO of Sandvik, says: “We are continuously driving our technology roadmap forward. The 5G Edge Slicing Solution is contributing well to our digital mining solutions and it has moved from planning to execution, already working in our unique test mine environment. It is great to be a technology leader, implement and utilize new 5G Edge Slicing technology as a pioneer in the world. In close cooperation with our partners, we learn to deliver the best solutions to support our customers' digital transformation to increase productivity and efficiency. To accelerate breakthrough innovation and technological growth and really put the technology infrastructure to work, we needed to set bold aspirations, made tough resource-allocation and portfolio choices. Good partners, like Nokia and Telia, enable us to achieve these goals. I look forward to continuing the strong collaboration.”

The solution is scalable, so that the virtual network infrastructure can be used by several customers in the same area, such as an industrial park or corporate campus. The virtual 5G private network can be implemented flexibly in an area with a 4G/5G base station.