The Swedish operator will build new mobile sites across 43 municipalities as part of a multi-year programme to strengthen rural coverage
Telia has announced a five-year plan to expand mobile coverage across a further 17,000 square kilometres of rural Sweden, committing around SEK 500 million to new sites and upgrades across 13 counties. The work, which runs until 2030, aims to improve connectivity in sparsely populated areas where demand for coverage has been rising.
The operator said its 4G and 5G networks already reach 99.9% of the population and, following modernisation work due for completion at year-end, will span 94% of Sweden’s land area. Between 2021 and 2025 Telia deployed several hundred new base stations nationwide. The newly announced phase focuses specifically on locations where the operator and municipalities have identified persistent coverage gaps.
“This unique initiative provides significantly better coverage in many of Sweden’s rural areas. It is about more than faster data; it is a societally critical effort that strengthens and secures connected everyday life and Sweden’s digital preparedness. When we say 5G almost everywhere, we really mean it,” said Telia’s chief technology officer Staffan Åkesson,
According to analysts Tefficient, the programme marks a substantial extension of an already extensive footprint. They note that Sweden “already has fantastic mobile coverage” and that Telia’s commitment will bring connectivity to areas that today remain unserved, in a country with an average population density of just 26 inhabitants per square kilometre. Tefficient also said the scale of the project – 17,000 square kilometres built with new sites over five years – is “great” for rural consumers and businesses.
Telia stated that the investment is needs-based, with site selection guided by regional broadband strategies developed in collaboration with municipalities, county authorities and national bodies. The rollout covers 43 municipalities, ranging from large northern counties such as Jämtland, Norrbotten and Västerbotten to smaller rural pockets in southern regions including Kalmar, Kronoberg and Halland.
Although Telia did not reference spectrum obligations in its announcement, Tefficient pointed out that the expansion aligns with requirements attached to the 900 MHz licences auctioned by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) in 2023. One of the licences included a specific rural coverage obligation. Telia secured that licence at a discounted price, “about 260 MSEK compared to the licences without it”, according to Tefficient, once bandwidth differences are equalised. The licence comes into force on 1 January 2026 and runs until 2048.
The rural build, which Telia says is the only one of its scale currently planned by a Swedish operator, is expected to deliver both improved and entirely new mobile coverage. Telia argues that the programme will support residents, businesses and public services in the targeted areas, while contributing to national resilience objectives.
