Strategic Partnerships Driving 5G and Fiber Expansion in Finland: A Look at Rejlers and Telia Finland

The Nordic telecom sector is undergoing a transformative phase, with Finland emerging as a global leader in 5G and fiber infrastructure. At the heart of this evolution are strategic partnerships between key players like Telia Finland and Rejlers, which are accelerating the deployment of high-speed networks and redefining the region’s digital economy. These collaborations are not just about technological advancement—they are catalysts for economic growth, enabling Finland to position itself at the forefront of the global race for next-generation connectivity.

Telia Finland: A 5G and Fiber Powerhouse

Telia Finland’s strategic alliances, particularly with Nokia and the Finnish Defense Forces, have positioned it as a pioneer in 5G innovation. In April 2025, Telia, Nokia, and the Finnish Defense Forces achieved a historic milestone: the world’s first standalone 5G slice handover across borders in a live network. This breakthrough demonstrated the viability of secure, mission-critical communications for defense and cross-border operations, leveraging network slicing to create isolated, high-priority environments [1].

Beyond defense, Telia is expanding its 5G footprint through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions. By deploying Nokia’s FastMile 5G gateway, Telia is offering high-speed broadband to residential and business customers, particularly in areas where fiber rollout is economically or logistically challenging [2]. Simultaneously, the company is pioneering 5G Standalone (SA) corridors along key transportation routes under the EU-funded Sirius innovation program, aiming to support industries like logistics and autonomous vehicles with ultra-low latency and high reliability [3].

Finland’s broader telecom market is also seeing a surge in fiber expansion. While Telia has historically focused on wireless infrastructure, its recent decision to sell its residential fiber network to Valokuitunen, a CapMan Infra portfolio company, marks a strategic pivot. This transaction, covering over 31,500 households, will allow Valokuitunen to scale its fiber footprint to nearly 400,000 households by 2024, ensuring continued investment in fiber infrastructure without diverting Telia’s resources [4].

Rejlers: Enabling Fixed Network Growth

While Telia’s partnerships with Nokia and Valokuitunen dominate headlines, Rejlers plays a critical but less visible role in Finland’s telecom ecosystem. The Swedish engineering firm has deepened its collaboration with Telia Finland to manage fixed network projects, including customer access requests and network extensions tailored to client needs [5]. This partnership is emblematic of the Nordic model of shared infrastructure, where companies pool resources to optimize costs and accelerate deployment.

Rejlers’ involvement extends beyond project management. The firm has integrated Telia Finland’s expertise into its own operations, with several Telia specialists now embedded in Rejlers’ teams. This synergy underscores a broader trend in the Nordic telecom sector: the blurring of lines between infrastructure providers and engineering firms, fostering innovation and operational efficiency [6].

The Nordic Advantage: Infrastructure as a Growth Engine

Finland’s telecom sector is not operating in isolation. The Nordic region’s collaborative culture—evidenced by Telia’s shared network agreement with DNA, which now covers 62.5% of Finland’s area—creates a scalable model for 5G and fiber expansion. By sharing towers and infrastructure, operators reduce capital expenditures while accelerating coverage, a strategy that aligns with Finland’s national goal of becoming a 6G research leader by 2030 [7].

For investors, the implications are clear: infrastructure partnerships are driving both technological and financial returns. Telia’s monetization of tower assets and Rejlers’ role in network management highlight how telecom firms are transforming passive infrastructure into revenue streams. Meanwhile, Valokuitunen’s acquisition of Telia’s fiber network demonstrates the sector’s appetite for long-term, capital-intensive projects, which are increasingly attractive to private equity and institutional investors [8].

Conclusion: A Blueprint for the Future

Finland’s telecom sector is a microcosm of the global shift toward infrastructure-driven growth. By leveraging strategic partnerships, Telia Finland and Rejlers are not only advancing 5G and fiber deployment but also setting a precedent for how telecom companies can collaborate with engineering firms, defense agencies, and private equity to scale innovation. As the Nordic region continues to lead in digital infrastructure, investors who recognize the value of these partnerships will find themselves at the intersection of technological progress and financial opportunity.

Source:
[1] Nokia, Telia, and Finnish Defense Forces achieve world's first 5G standalone slice handover across borders [https://www.nokia.com/newsroom/nokia-telia-and-finnish-defense-forces-achieve-worlds-first-5g-standalone-slice-handover-across-borders/]
[2] Telia to Deploy 5G FWA Network in Finland [https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/telia-to-deploy-5g-fwa-network-in-finland/]
[3] Finland Telecom Market Industry Trends & Growth Forecasts [https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/09/04/2940639/28124/en/Finland-Telecom-Market-Industry-Trends-Growth-Forecasts-2024-2029-Featuring-Telia-Elisa-DNA-Finnet-Group-Nokia-Tele2-Digita-S1-Networks-and-Setera.html]
[4] CapMan Infra's portfolio company Valokuitunen acquires Telia Finland's fibre network [https://capman.com/2024/09/capman-infras-portfolio-company-valokuitunen-acquires-telias-fibre-network-in-residential-areas-the-largest-fibre-network-deal-in-finland/]
[5] Rejlers renforce son partenariat avec Telia Finland dans les réseaux fixes [https://www.zonebourse.com/actualite-bourse/rejlers-renforce-son-partenariat-avec-telia-finland-dans-les-reseaux-fixes-ce7c50dcde81f225?srsltid=AfmBOoqp77d-rki0D7GrycuRBb4UZcQ7n19wmAyK2tQIYTOZLbGQHG_5]
[6] Telia to monetise tower assets, expand network-sharing [https://www.telecoms.com/towers/telia-to-monetise-tower-assets-expand-network-sharing]
[7] Telia Finland and DNA expand shared network agreement [https://www.teliacompany.com/en/news/telia-nokia-finnish-defense-forces-achieve-5g-world-first-2025-04-09-07-00-00]
[8] Finland Telecom Market Industry Trends & Growth Forecasts [https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/09/04/2940639/28124/en/Finland-Telecom-Market-Industry-Trends-Growth-Forecasts-2024-2029-Featuring-Telia-Elisa-DNA-Finnet-Group-Nokia-Tele2-Digita-S1-Networks-and-Setera.html]