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Iceland Plans a Pragmatic Path from TETRA to Mission-Critical Broadband

Moving public-safety communications from narrowband systems such as TETRA to 4G and 5G is rarely a straightforward technology replacement. Coverage has to be at least as good as the system being replaced, resilience requirements are considerably higher than those of an ordinary commercial mobile service, and migration can take many years. Iceland provides a particularly interesting example of how this transition might be approached. A presentation at Critical Communications World 2026 outlined Iceland’s current thinking for its next-generation critical communications system. Rather than immediately building a completely separate nationwide 5G network or simply relying on ordinary commercial mobile services, the emerging model combines dedicated spectrum, a dedicated core and MCX capability, and shared hardened radio infrastructure. The starting point is Iceland’s geography. The country covers around 103,000 square kilometres, around 75% of which is uninhabited highland and roughly 10%...
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Microwave Backhaul Is Becoming Smarter, Denser and More Efficient

Fibre is usually presented as the preferred transport technology for mobile networks, particularly as operators introduce 5G Standalone and prepare for 5G-Advanced. In practice, however, fibre cannot economically or quickly reach every site. Microwave transmission therefore remains an important part of mobile backhaul. It is especially relevant in rural and suburban areas, difficult terrain, temporary deployments and locations where operators need additional resilience alongside fibre. Huawei’s 2025 Microwave Industry White Paper argues that microwave is evolving beyond its traditional role as a straightforward point-to-point connection. Future microwave networks will need to provide more capacity, operate reliably in challenging conditions, use spectrum more efficiently, simplify crowded sites and make greater use of AI-based automation.  Microwave and fibre are complementary The discussion around mobile transport is sometimes framed as a choice between fibre and microwave. In re...
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Finland’s Virve 2 Moves from Planning to Nationwide Migration

Back in 2020, I wrote about Finland’s plans to replace its long-established TETRA-based Virve public safety network with a new broadband service based on 4G and 5G. I followed this with an update in 2021 , when Virve 2.0 was still largely a development programme and the expectation was that the existing and new networks would operate side by side during the migration. Several years later, Virve 2, as it is now generally called, has moved from planning, procurement and testing into nationwide deployment. Erillisverkot confirmed in its 2025 annual report that the Virve 2 service had been completed and that its key services were operational throughout Finland and Åland . The complete service consists of four main components: the Virve 2 connection service, Group Voice Service, Group Video Service and Terminal Device Service. All the key services have received approval for operational deployment under Finland’s legislation governing the government security network. The underlying model b...
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SWEN Brings 5G to Sweden’s Emergency Communications

One of the interesting presentations I attended at Critical Communications World 2026 was on SWEN , the Swedish Emergency Network, being developed by the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency. Like many European countries, Sweden is preparing for the transition from an existing narrowband TETRA network to a new generation of mission-critical broadband communications. Sweden’s current Rakel network has provided critical communications for emergency services and other public safety organisations for many years, but the future requires much more than reliable push-to-talk voice. What caught my attention during the presentation was that SWEN is far more than simply replacing TETRA radios with 4G and 5G devices. The programme is bringing together commercial mobile networks, dedicated spectrum, reinforced coverage, temporary and deployable coverage, mission-critical services, new devices and a long-term migration strategy. Just as importantly, it is being developed in close cooperatio...
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Airbus Envisions Non-Terrestrial Optical Networks for 5G and 6G

When we talk about Non-Terrestrial Networks, or NTN, the discussion usually focuses on satellites providing connectivity directly to users and devices. However, a short presentation from Airbus looked at a very different role for non-terrestrial infrastructure. Andres Catelo, Product Manager for Lasercomms Services & Ground Segment at Airbus Defence and Space, discussed how free-space optical communications could provide extremely high-capacity connectivity through satellites, aircraft and other platforms. The wider vision is to integrate these optical links with terrestrial fibre infrastructure and use them to support future 5G and 6G networks. Rather than replacing terrestrial networks, the idea is to add another high-capacity and highly adaptable layer above them. Airbus is exploring how non-terrestrial optical connectivity could support xhaul, connect network nodes, move traffic between data centres and provide additional routes when terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable or...
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KDDI and JR East Bring 5G mmWave Inside Train Cars Using Glass Antennas

We have looked at glass-based connectivity solutions a few times on this blog, especially the work around transparent antennas and the use of windows as part of the radio network. The idea may sound futuristic, but it is gradually moving from concept demonstrations to more practical deployment scenarios. The latest example comes from KDDI and JR East, who have successfully demonstrated a way to expand 5G millimetre wave coverage inside JR Yamanote Line train cars. The demonstration was completed by 15 April 2026 at JR East’s Tokyo General Rolling Stock Center, with the news release published on 20 May 2026. The train cars used for the test were parked, so this should be seen as an important technical demonstration rather than a live passenger service deployment. The challenge being addressed is easy to understand. The 28 GHz band used for 5G millimetre wave can provide high-speed, high-capacity connectivity, but it is also highly directional and more easily blocked by obstacles. Train...
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KPN, Isala and ANWB Show How Medical Drones Could Become Part of Everyday Healthcare Logistics

Medical drones are often presented as futuristic, but some of the most interesting work is now taking place in very practical healthcare settings. One example is the trial between Isala’s hospital locations in Zwolle and Meppel in the Netherlands, where a medical drone is being used to transport blood products, medicines and samples between care locations. This is a useful follow-up to the discussion on China Telecom’s 5G-enabled UAV medical delivery network. While the Chinese example fits into the broader low-altitude economy narrative, the Dutch example is more about how drones can be safely integrated into healthcare logistics, airspace management and public mobile networks in a European regulatory environment. The trial brings together KPN, Isala, ANWB, Air Traffic Control the Netherlands, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and other healthcare partners. The drone uses KPN’s 4G and 5G networks, with KPN’s Drone Connect service providing insight into network cove...
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