Sweden has for decades been a world leader in telecommunications and electronics hardware, from the pioneering days of telephony to the cutting edge of 5G, industrial networking and optical transmission. The country’s electronic manufacturing segment is substantial, comprising 77 pure-play EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services) operators with a collective output of SEK 13.6 billion in 2024. The broader computer, electronic & optical product manufacturing industry in Sweden maintains a market size of €5.1 billion by 2026. The Swedish market is characterized by a blend of global telecommunications giants, specialized industrial networking firms and a strong ecosystem of component manufacturers and EMS providers.
Swedish telecom hardware is synonymous with reliability, innovation and leadership in setting standards, especially in mobile infrastructure (5G/6G), fiber optics and industrial connectivity. The five companies below are the most important Swedish players in this sector, driving digital transformation for telecommunications, industrial automation and mission-critical networks around the world.
Top 5 Swedish Telecom & Electronics Hardware Manufacturers
- Ericsson
- HMS Networks
- Hexatronic Group
- Westermo (Ependion)
- Note
A Closer Look at the Top 5 Swedish Telecom & Electronics Hardware Manufacturers
1. Ericsson
Ericsson is the undisputed flagship of Sweden in telecommunication technology and a world leader in mobile network infrastructure. Founded in 1876 and headquartered in Stockholm, the company has played a role in every significant generation of mobile technology from 1G to the current deployment of 5G and research into 6G. Ericsson has been connecting people for nearly 150 years, providing the hardware, software and services that enable billions of people to connect. Its research centres are located throughout Sweden contribute to advancements in antenna technology and network optimization algorithms, helping operators around the world improve network efficiency across multiple spectrum bands and deployment scenarios.
Key Products
- 5G RAN (Radio Access Network): Base stations, radios and antennas that form the core of modern mobile broadband networks.
- Cloud RAN: A software-based infrastructure solution that lets operators run network functions on standard hardware for more flexibility and cost savings.
- Transport Solutions Optical and IP networking equipment for backhaul and fronthaul connectivity
- IoT Platforms—dedicated hardware and software for managing large-scale IoT deployments in industrial, automotive and smart city applications.
- Enterprise Solutions: Private 5G networks and communication platforms for businesses and industries.
Key Features
- Ericsson developed custom-designed silicon chipsets to improve energy efficiency and performance of 5G equipment.
- Massive MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output): Advanced antenna technology that significantly increases network capacity and data speeds.
- Industry 4.0 focus: Connectivity is a major enabler for industrial automation and mission-critical applications.
- Patent Leadership: Ericsson holds one of the industry’s largest and most valuable patent portfolios, licensing essential 5G technology to handset manufacturers.
Achievements
- One of the world’s largest providers of 5G infrastructure, serving more than 180 countries.
- Recognized for its ongoing investments in research and development that are setting the standards for 5G Advanced and 6G.
- Successfully transitioned its business model to include cloud-native software and managed services alongside traditional hardware sales.
Feedback
Ericsson is widely acknowledged for the “sheer reliability and performance” of its radio equipment, which is often cited as the benchmark for telecom infrastructure. While Comp Ericsson is often viewed as the benchmark for telecom infrastructure and is highly regarded for the “sheer reliability and performance” of its radio equipment. Analysts say despite the stiff competition, Ericsson remains a Tier 1 choice for carriers demanding high throughput and low latency.
Contact Information
Website: www.ericsson.com
2. HMS Networks
HMS Networks is a world leader in industrial information and communication technology with a focus on the hardware that connects industrial devices to networks. Based in Halmstad, HMS is the preferred supplier for “Anybus” technology—gateways, wireless solutions and embedded modules that allow industrial robots, PLCs (programmable logic controllers) and sensors to communicate with each other, regardless of the communications protocol they use. The company has grown substantially through acquisitions, including brands such as Anybus, Ewon, Intesis and US-based Red Lion (including N-Tron) in its portfolio, providing it with a strong presence in the North American industrial networking market.
Key Products
- Anybus Gateways: Hardware translation between industrial networks (PROFINET to EtherNet/IP, Modbus to PROFIBUS, etc.), solving connectivity problems in factories with many vendors.
- Remote Access Routers (Ewon): Secure hardware appliances that allow engineers to remotely monitor and troubleshoot industrial machinery over the internet.
- Intesis Gateways: Hardware dedicated to building automation, providing connectivity between HVAC systems and KNX, BACnet and Modbus networks.
- N-Tron Switches: Rugged industrial Ethernet switches engineered for use in traffic control, power utilities and rail systems, built for extreme temperatures, shock and vibration.
Key Features
- Interoperability Focus: Factory installations often include devices from many different brands and HMS products are designed to bridge the communication gaps to ensure compatibility between older “brownfield” equipment and newer Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems. MS products are designed to bridge the communication gap, allowing legacy “brownfield” equipment to communicate with modern Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems.
- C Cybersecurity: The remote access products have built-in security features to allow remote access of critical machinery without exposing the corporate network to cyber threats. erecurity: Embedded security features in the remote access products offerethat crucial machinery can can be accessed remotely viaou• Exposing the corporate network to cyber threats.
- Durability: High Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and robust casings make their switches and gateways suitable for harsh, outdoor, or un-airconditioned industrial environments.
Achievements
- Recognized for generating most of its revenue from high demand markets outside of Sweden including USA, Japan and Germany . • Deriving the majority of its revenue from high-demand markets outside of Sweden such as the USA, Japan and Germany.
- Successfully integrated multiple acquisitions (Red Lion, Ewon, Intesis) to build a comprehensive ecosyst Successfully integrated multiple acquisitions (Red Lion, Ewon, Intesis) into an all-in-one ecosystem for industrial networking.
- Developed a strong reputation for “proprietary, patented technology” in intelligent industrial communication .
Feedback
In the industrial sector, HMS is viewed as a problem-solver. When a production line is stalled because an old PLC cannot speak to a new cloud system, facility managers often turn to HMS hardware to resolve the incompatibility.
Contact Information
Website: www.hms-networks.com
3. Hexatronic Group
Hexatronic Group is a technology leader specialising in fibre optic communications products and solutions. As the world moves toward high-speed gigabit connections for Hexatronic supplies the passive infrastructure, cables, ducts and connection boxes that make 5G backhaul and FTTH (Fiber to the Home) possible. The company is based in Gothenburg and serves telecom operators, network owners and system integrators. Ericsson supplies the active electronics, while Hexatronic supplies the physical paths that protect and route the light signals, a key part of the “last mile” connectivity in modern telecommunications.
Key Products
- Fibre Cables and Microducts: Cables and flexible plastic tubes (microducts) that contain fibre cables which make installation and upgrades easier without the need to dig new trenches.
- Blown Fibre Systems (InOne): A patented system that uses compressed air to literally ‘blow’ fibre units through microducts, giving network operators the ability to install fibre on-demand.
- – Connectivity Solutions: Patch panels, splice closures and connectors to handle fibre networks in central offices or street cabinets.
- Sensor Systems Specialist Fibre optic cables for temperature, strain and acoustic monitoring in power lines, pipelines and civil infrastructure.
Key Features
- Future-proofing The microduct technology allows network owners to install the tubes now and blow the fibre in later, so hardware updates don’t require roadworks.
- Pre-connectorized Solutions: Plug-and-play fiber systems reduce the need for skilled splicers in the field, speeding up deployment times.
- Extreme surroundings Durability: Dynamic cables and connectivity solutions, resistant to extreme temperature and physical stress, suitable for use in urban and remote arctic deployments.
Achievements
- Seen strong growth, taking advantage of the substantial European investment in fiber-optic broadband infrastructure.
- Known for its “InOne Powered Fiber Fibersystem”: A complete solution for efficient FTTx rollout.
- It grew its global footprint and made a lot of revenue from European and North American markets.
Feedback
Telecom installers like the easy deployment of Hexatronic’s microduct and pre-connectorized systems. The sensor systems are lauded for their ability to monitor large, remote areas of infrastructure that would be impossible to physically patrol, in terms of utility.
Contact Information
Website: www.hexatronic.com
4. Westermo (Ependion AB)
Westermo is a leading manufacturer of data communications equipment for mission-critical and harsh-environment applications. Westermo, part of the Ependion group (previously Beijer Electronics Group), specializes in industrial Ethernet switches, routers and modems. Unlike “normal” IT equipment that can’t handle dust, extreme temperatures and electrical interference, Westermo equipment is designed to keep trains running, power grids stable and water treatment plants operational 24/7/365. The Ependion group is dedicated to delivering digital solutions for reliable control, management, visualization and data communication in industrial applications where reliability is critical.
Key Products
- Rugged network switches with redundant power supplies and ring topologies (FRNT) that can re-route traffic in milliseconds if a cable is cut. Industrial Ethernet Switches
- Industrial Routers & Firewalls Secure 4G/5G routers, which connect remote equipment (e.g., wind turbines or pumping stations) back to a central control room via cellular networks.
- Serial to Ethernet Converters: These devices convert legacy serial signals (RS-232/485) to modern IP traffic, extending the life of existing industrial equipment.
- Fanless DIN-Rail Mounted PCs: industrial-grade computers for space-constrained electrical cabinets.
Key Features
- Galvanic Isolation: Westermo products have high voltage isolation, protecting the equipment from ground loops and lightning strikes. This is an important safety feature for rail and heavy industry.
- Extreme Temperature Range: Guaranteed to operate from -40ºC to +70ºC, so it will work in Swedish winters or Middle Eastern deserts.
- FRNT (Fast Reconfiguration of Network Topology) is Westermo’s proprietary protocol for restoring network connectivity in under 20ms, guaranteeing no data loss in automation cycles.
Achievements
- For example, used in thousands of railway networks in Europe for signaling and door control systems on high-speed trains.
- Integrated into the power grid of Sweden (Svenska kraftnät) for monitoring and control applications.
- Acquired by Ependion (then Beijer), strengthening its position as a premium brand for “reliability and high quality” in industrial connectivity.
Feedback
Westermo is trusted by rail and utility engineers because of its “mean time between failures.” Gear is often put in tunnels or substations and forgotten about for a decade. The downside is the premium cost, but users generally agree that for critical infrastructure the expense is worth it for the uptime.
Contact Information
Website: www.westermo.com
5. Note
Note is a leading provider of manufacturing and logistics services for electronics, often referred to as an Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) partner. Unlike the other companies on this list who design their own products, Note makes the products for other companies, acting as a pure-play EMS operator with in-house PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) capability. Note, based in Stockholm, is Sweden’s largest EMS provider by revenue, with SEK 2.2 billion in 2024. It is a key enabler for the Swedish tech industry, producing hardware for industries from medical technology and industrial automation to defence and telecoms and it enables OEMs to outsource their production.
Key Products & Services
- PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly): automated placement of electronic components on circuit boards by means of Surface-Mount Technology (SMT).
- Box Build Assembly: From start to finish assembles complex electronic products including wiring, plastic molding and testing delivering a finished product ready for shipping.
- Material Sourcing & Logistics: Supply chain management for semiconductors and components and distribution of finished goods worldwide.
- Production sites: We have four factories in Sweden: Herrljunga, Lund, Norrtälje and Torsby.
Key Features
- High-Volume & High-Mix Capability: Note manages both the scale required for mass production and the flexibility needed for the varied “high-mix” demand of Swedish industrial customers.
- Vertical Integration: They do everything from buying raw chips to shipping the final plastic-wrapped product, so their customers have fewer vendors to deal with.
- Resilience “Their factories have been instrumental in keeping Swedish companies in production during global supply chain shortages when competitors couldn’t.”
Achievements
- The clear market leader in Sweden with revenues almost double that of its closest competitor in the Swedish EMS industry.
- Runs one of the single largest production sites in the Nordic region. The factory in Torsby alone produces close to SEK 1 billion in value.
- In 2023 it added the electronics manufacturing business of Orbit One to its portfolio, strengthening its position in the market.
Feedback
Customers depend on Note for “operational excellence” and supply chain stability. For many Swedish hardware startups and scale-ups, a partnership with Note is a “mark of maturity” and means a product is ready for mass production. They are commended for their skill to negotiate the complex global component market.
Contact Information
Website: www.note.eu
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company is the oldest and largest telecom manufacturer in Sweden?
Ericsson is Sweden’s largest and oldest telecom maker. It is a global giant, providing the infrastructure ( 5G, 6G research ) for most of the mobile networks of the world . Founded 1876 .
What is the difference between Ericsson and Hexatronic?
Ericsson is a specialist in the production, processing and transmission of active electronic equipment (base stations, antennas) for radio signals. Hexatronic is a specialist in passive fibre optic infrastructure – the physical cables, ducts and boxes that guide light signals but don’t produce power.
Which company is best for connecting industrial robots and factory equipment?
HMS Networks is the world’s leading supplier of industrial communication. If you have a factory with devices from different brands that need to exchange data, HMS creates the gateways and routers to translate the different industrial languages (PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, Modbus).
What kind of hardware does Westermo make?
Westermo makes rugged networking hardware such as switches and routers for harsh and critical environments like railway tunnels, power substations and offshore platforms. Their equipment is built to handle extreme temperatures (-40°C and lower), vibration and electrical interference.
What is an EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services) provider?
Note: An EMS provider is a “contract manufacturer.” They make electronics for other brands (OEMs). If a Swedish medical tech company invents a device, they may partner with Note to take care of the actual manufacturing, assembly and logistics, while the inventor can focus on design and sales.
How large is the Swedish electronics manufacturing sector?
It is a big industry. The pure-play EMS market (contract manufacturers) alone generated SEK 13.6 billion in 2024, led by Note at SEK 2.2 billion. The broader industry of all computer and optical product manufacturing had a market size of €5.1 billion in 2026.
Which Swedish company specializes in fiber optic cables and microducts?
Hexatronic Group is a Swedish specialist in fiber-optical solutions. Their innovative “InOne” blown fiber systems and microducts help to make the deployment of high-speed broadband networks easier and faster without the need for extensive civil engineering.
