- Telia’s 5G slice enabled control of Patria vehicle from 100km away
- Trial held under Finnish defence innovation programme eALLIANCE
What happened: Telia’s 5G trial remotely controls armoured vehicle across 100km
Telia Finland has successfully demonstrated the remote operation of an unmanned Patria AMV XP 8×8 armoured vehicle using its advanced 5G network infrastructure. During military exercises held in Lapland, engineers managed to control the vehicle from nearly 100 kilometres away, marking a significant milestone in the integration of commercial telecom networks with defence applications.
The feat was achieved using a dedicated 5G network slice, a method where network capacity is reserved for a specific use or customer. This allowed for real-time remote operation of the vehicle at high speed with stability and security. The trial forms part of a wider research and innovation effort under the eALLIANCE programme, a national initiative led by Patria, focusing on technology collaborations within Finland’s defence sector.
Janne Koistinen, Director of the 5G Programme at Telia Finland, noted the broader implications: “Advanced 5G slicing has already demonstrated its benefits in sectors like industry and logistics. Defence is a logical next step as dual-use technologies shape Europe’s strategic capabilities.”
According to Matti Saarikko, Patria’s CTO and eALLIANCE lead, “Remote control of armoured platforms is a crucial area for unmanned mission development. This test is a considerable advancement for reconnaissance and combat support systems.”
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Why it’s important
The demonstration highlights the increasing integration of commercial telecom technology into national defence operations. The successful remote control of an armoured vehicle from a distance of nearly 100 kilometres not only showcases 5G’s ultra-low latency and reliability but also underlines how network slicing could become essential in critical command-and-control scenarios.
With the defence industry accelerating development of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), applications range from reconnaissance missions to autonomous logistics and combat deployment. The eALLIANCE programme, through which this test was conducted, exemplifies Finland’s push for cross-sectoral innovation, aligning private sector telecom capabilities with military-grade demands.
This development also sets a precedent for secure, real-time teleoperation of machines in mission-critical settings, which may extend to border patrol, disaster response, or remote surveillance. While other industries like manufacturing and logistics have benefited from 5G slicing, its application in mobile armoured systems broadens the strategic scope of wireless technologies in national security.
