Finally on track for the future

We are finally here! The 5G rollout can now begin in earnest. The auction is over and the operators have received (well, received and received - they have, as usual, had to make hefty payments to the treasury in the form of auction proceeds) the long-awaited permits to start rolling out 5G on a broad front in Sweden as well. Not all the dust has yet settled and the legal wrangling around this process, so strangely handled by the authorities, is far from over. But if we ignore that and allow ourselves to look up a little, we see - the future! Because 5G is more than just another G. It's not just an evolution of today's communication networks. No, 5G means endless possibilities and will bring completely new conditions for connectivity and communication.

5G is not only about fast downloads and high capacity, but also about ultra-short latency and the ability to handle large numbers of connected devices simultaneously. 5G can be used in a variety of ways. In the United States, where the technology started to be rolled out a couple of years ago, it has mainly been used to deploy fixed broadband. In South Korea, which is also at the forefront of its use, it is mainly mobile consumers who have taken the technology to heart. 5G thus brings with it many different opportunities. But in Sweden, the focus has not been on these opportunities and their use. Instead, responsible politicians and authorities have chosen to focus entirely on the issue of security. Does this mean that the networks in the United States, South Korea and in all other countries where the networks have begun to be built out, are not safe? I have my doubts. Very much so.

But now is the time to raise our sights - in Sweden too. Don't let fear stand in the way of development. Market players have a solid security mindset and Swedish interests are paramount. For businesses and public sector actors, 5G will offer completely new opportunities to deliver services and streamline production. Several Swedish industrial companies, in collaboration with manufacturers and operators, have also tested how 5G can help to streamline various processes. Agriculture and forestry have found ways to use the technology to improve, as have mining, transportation companies and other industries. Used properly, the new technology can also provide us with tools to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

We must see the opportunities and we must seriously facilitate and stimulate the expansion. Sweden must take the chance to be part of the future.

I hope for a good continuation and that 2021 will be the year when Sweden took the step into the future. And I know that I am not alone in that hope!

My Bergdahl, Industry Policy Expert, IT&Telecom Industries