Nokia and LMT Expand 5G Defence Partnership to Deliver Tactical Communications Across Latvia and the Baltic Region

Riga, Latvia – Nokia and Latvian operator LMT have entered a new agreement to deploy a 5G-based tactical communications system designed for high-capacity, secure, and resilient military use. The integrated solution will support real-time data sharing among uncrewed vehicles, sensors, and military units, with applications across Latvia and the wider Baltic region.

New Agreement Targets Next-Generation Battlefield Connectivity

The partners aim to build a dedicated tactical network architecture tailored to the evolving requirements of modern military operations. According to the companies, the system is intended to enhance situational awareness and enable secure interoperability in collective defence operations.

LMT president Juris Binde said: “This partnership builds on our longstanding collaboration and shared commitment to advancing 5G capabilities for defence. Together with Nokia, we are enhancing the security, resilience, and operational readiness of national and allied forces, ensuring mission success even in the most demanding environments.”

Key capabilities highlighted

• High-capacity, secure, and resilient tactical communications designed for military deployments
• Real-time data exchange between uncrewed platforms, battlefield sensors, and deployed teams
• Improved situational awareness and interoperability for collective defence missions

Built on an Established 5G Defence Collaboration

Nokia and LMT have a history of co-developing 5G military applications in Latvia, contributing to defence initiatives in the country’s eastern region. The collaboration includes the development of a portable 5G tactical network that uses Nokia’s Banshee platform.

LMT also operates Europe’s first 5G military testbed at the Ādaži base, a key facility used by NATO in Latvia. The testbed supports experimentation and validation of secure communications, autonomy, and sensor fusion across tactical environments.

Industry Context: Nokia’s Expanding Defence Portfolio

In September 2025, Nokia expanded its defence portfolio with the launch of Nokia Mission-Safe Phone and an updated version of the Nokia Banshee 5G Tactical Radio. These developments align with increasing demand for ruggedised, mission-critical communications solutions that integrate seamlessly with multi-domain operations.

Giuseppe Targia, Nokia’s space and defence head, said: “Our joint solution with LMT supports the modernisation of military capabilities, enabling faster decision-making, seamless communication, and the integration of advanced technologies across tactical environments.”

Why it matters for Baltic defence

• Supports sovereign and allied command-and-control capabilities
• Enables secure, low-latency communications across dispersed units
• Fosters NATO-aligned interoperability and readiness in the Baltic region

What the Tactical System Enables

The integrated solution is designed to connect uncrewed ground and aerial systems with sensor networks and frontline teams. This architecture aims to reduce decision timelines, strengthen operational coordination, and provide the digital backbone necessary for data-driven, multi-domain operations.

By leveraging 5G capabilities such as network slicing and edge computing, the partners intend to harden communications against disruption while maintaining performance in contested environments.

Conclusion: Next Steps for Latvia’s Defence Communications

The Nokia-LMT agreement advances Latvia’s position as a regional hub for 5G defence innovation. With the Ādaži 5G military testbed and prior integration work on the Banshee platform, the partners are positioned to accelerate deployment of mission-ready tactical networks. Further implementation details and deployment timelines were not disclosed, but the initiative is set to enhance operational readiness and interoperability for national and allied forces across the Baltic region.