Norwegian Armed Forces Test Google Pixel-Based Military Communications Solution

Norway's Cyber Defence is piloting a smartphone-driven communications platform developed with leading telecom operators, with early trials showing strong operational promise.

The Norwegian Armed Forces are advancing a new approach to military communications by testing a solution built around Google Pixel smartphones — a development that could redefine how soldiers connect both in the field and across departmental boundaries.

The initiative is being led by Team 5G within the Cyber Defence, operating under Forsvarsmateriell — the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency — as part of its Mime project.

The solution was developed in close collaboration with civilian technology partners and Norwegian telecom operators including Telenor, Telia, and ice Norge/Lyse, and underwent live testing during Exercise Cold Response 2026.

"This could be the new internal connection in the Armed Forces. In the long term, the goal is that one and the same device can be used both in the office, privately and in the field – with the necessary security levels," said Sindre Føllesdal, product owner in Team 5G in the Cyber Defence.

Central to the project's appeal is the familiarity of the technology. By leveraging hardware that soldiers already recognise and intuitively understand, the Armed Forces aim to reduce training overhead and lower the threshold for effective communication. A custom military software layer has been developed specifically for the Pixel 10 platform in partnership with Google.

"We are among the first in the world with this collaboration, and several other countries are following with interest, including Finland and Sweden," Føllesdal noted.

To support field deployment, Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt (FFI) — the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment — has designed a 3D-printed holder compatible with standard combat vests, ensuring the device remains readily accessible during operations.

"The feedback indicates that the system works well in practice, and that it is easy to integrate with existing equipment such as vests and hearing protection," said Emanuel Rygg.

Security has been a primary design consideration throughout the programme. Rather than routing data through public internet infrastructure, the solution employs a mechanism referred to as disc sharing, developed in cooperation with Norwegian mobile operators. This ensures that all data traffic to and from the Pixel device travels directly to Armed Forces infrastructure, bypassing the open internet entirely.

"Security is very well taken care of. Yes, we have American technology at the base, but we put our own technology on top and have full control over the apps we use," said Føllesdal.

At a time of heightened demand for resilient and interoperable defence communications across NATO member states, the Norwegian solution represents a notable development in the integration of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology within secure military environments. With allied nations already observing the programme's progress, the initiative may have implications well beyond Norway's own defence communications architecture.