DEBATE: Sweden needs to look up and face the future

The public debate on 5G in Sweden has long focused on security threats, trade conflicts and legal processes. The benefits and opportunities of the new technology have been overshadowed. But it is clear that 5G will enable new innovation that will take the digitization of people's everyday lives, businesses and industries, and society at large to the next level. While we wait, others are taking big steps. Sweden is certainly a digital superpower, but we risk falling behind and being overtaken by countries with more ambitious plans.

5G is not only new digital highways, it is also an innovation platform for new services. We will have access to more information and data about what is happening around us and we can start communicating with machines and systems in ways that were not possible before. With high data rates and extremely low latency, data will be processed in real time, opening the door to entirely new services. From new mobile gaming experiences to digital health services and automated industries and transportation, 5G networks will carry all these services. With 5G, we will be able to address a large number of challenges and opportunities to streamline, innovate and drive sustainable societal development.

We are now seeing how countries like Finland, Germany, the UK and Switzerland have been better at rolling out the new technology and embracing its opportunities. Asia and the US have gone even further. Swedish industrial companies are competing with industrial companies that have already converted their production to a connected and digital way of working. If we do not increase the pace and really start to take advantage of the full potential of the new technology, it may have long-term negative consequences for our digital competitiveness in the world and its importance for the economy and society. The roll-out of the Swedish 5G networks is in full swing and it is time for all of us - business, policy makers, public sector and academia - to accelerate our concrete work to enable 5G and to benefit from its full potential. We propose that:

• Sweden needs to initiate concrete development programs in various areas where 5G and its opportunities are taken advantage of and where the public sector, academia and industry have given roles. The environment, transport, energy supply and health care are examples of areas where the new technology can provide completely new opportunities to solve society's tasks and challenges.
• Research, development and education in digitalization need to be strengthened. Research, development and education are crucial to Swedish growth and competitiveness and Sweden as a knowledge nation. Analyses show that other countries are increasing their efforts in this area and we need to continue investing to maintain our position. The Government has recently given Vinnova a mandate to digitize the business sector, with accompanying funding. This is good and welcome, but the investment would need to be significantly greater, with a clear focus on cutting-edge research areas, test environments and training initiatives, and 5G should be an obvious part of this.
• Business and the public sector need to be empowered to take full advantage of new technologies and develop competitive innovative solutions. To achieve this, enabling rules and innovation sandboxes are needed, as well as an open and transparent market that creates an ecosystem, which will also help retain and attract new international companies and talent to Sweden.
• Sweden needs to actively contribute with commitment and expertise to strengthen and develop the EU's single digital market. The EU's Restart Fund (RRF) is a powerful investment initiative to modernize and restart Member States' economies after the pandemic. Using these funds for a targeted green digitalization effort, of which 5G is an obvious part, is probably the most productive thing to do.

With these measures, Sweden can seize the endless opportunities that 5G brings. Don't let political fears stand in the way of development. Market players have a solid security mindset and Swedish interests are paramount. It is time for Sweden to lift its gaze and face the future.

Åsa Zetterberg, Association Director, IT&Telecom Industries

Johan Britz, Director of Industrial Policy, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise

Thomas Erséus, CEO, Almega