The European 5G Conference 2023 taking place on the 13 - 14 March in Brussels

The European 5G Conference 2023

Event Overview

The 2023 edition of The European 5G Conference took place on 13-14 March at the BluePoint, Brussels. In its 7th year, the conference has an established reputation as Brussels’ leading meeting place for discussion on 5G policy.

The rollout of 5G in Europe is gathering pace, with more than 100 5G networks now having launched across 34 markets. As we continue to edge forward towards the target of 5G deployment in all populated areas by 2030, and with ‘5G Advanced’ and the next chapter of 5G development on the horizon, this conference looked at how stakeholders can come together to tackle the challenges, embrace the opportunities, and ensure that 5G changes Europe for the better.

With a return to an in-person format, the event did, once again, provide the opportunity to hear from high-level policymakers and industry stakeholders on key themes such as investment, security, sustainability, emerging business models and connectivity. Looking back at the lessons learnt to date, and forward to the path towards 5G Advanced and 6G, the event provided a comprehensive insight into all the key policy aspects that are shaping the 5G ecosystem in Europe.

 

View the Event Photos from 2023

View the Event Photos from 2023

View the Event Photos from 2023

Key Themes

infrastructure

Where are we? Progress in 5G network rollout & expansion

Securing Europe’s 5G Networks and Architecture

Finding a fair and sustainable approach to finance 5G ecosystem

Harnessing 5G to help achieve Europe’s climate targets

Towards 5G Advanced and the evolution towards 6G

WRC-23 and 5G – what should be Europe’s aspirations and how can these be achieved?

Spectrum sharing and licencing in the 5G era - mid-band, mmWave and other key frequencies

Organisers & Partners

Platinum Sponsors

FE
Analysys-Mason
Apritel Logo
Axon
Bouygues
DOT
Ericsson
ETNO
GSMA 2022
GSOA
Huawei website
Intelsat
Meta
Microsoft
Nokia
Orange
Qualcomm
Qualcomm

Gold Sponsors

BNE wp
EWIA wp
Vantage Towers
Vantage Towers
Vantage Towers

Knowledge Partners

Aetha 2021 logo
NERA
Vantage Towers
Vantage Towers
Vantage Towers
Vantage Towers

2023 speakers included:

Pearse O'Donohue

Pearse O'Donohue

Director, Future Networks, DG CONNECT, European Commission

Kostas Masselos

Kostas Masselos

Chairperson, BEREC

Carlota Reyners Fontana

Carlota Reyners Fontana

Head of Unit, Electronic Communications Policy, European Commission

Peter Stuckman

Peter Stuckmann

Head of Unit, Future Connectivity Systems, European Commission

Cristina Data 240

Cristina Data

Director of Spectrum Policy and Analysis
Ofcom

Eric-Fournier 240 (1)

Eric Fournier

Chairman, RSPG

Branimir Stantchev

Branimir Stantchev

Head of Sector, Wireless Broadband, European Commission

Lara Singer

Lara Singer

Principal Policy Advisor, Spectrum Awards, Ofcom

Alexandre Kholod

Alexandre Kholod

Chairman, Conference Preparatory Group, CEPT

Heidi Himmanen

Heidi Himmanen

Chief Adviser, Digital Connections
Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom

Maarit Palovirta

Maarit Palovirta

Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, ETNO

Martha Suarez

Martha Suarez

President, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance

Luigi-Ardito-240

Luigi Ardito

Senior Director Government Affairs EMEA, Qualcomm

Siada El Ramly

Siada El Ramly

Director General, DOT Europe

Jean Pierre Faisan

Jean-Pierre Faisan

Chair, Communications Working Group, EWIA

Mikko Karikyto

Mikko Karikyto

Chief Product Security Officer, Ericsson

Janette Stewart

Janette Stewart

Partner, Analysys Mason

Glyn Carter

Glyn Carter

Future Spectrum Director, GSMA

Samuel Tew

Samuel Tew

Principal Consultant
Axon

Michael_Opitz

Michael Opitz

Partner, Arthur D. Little

Mikko Karikyto

Mikko Karikyto

Chief Product Security Officer, Ericsson

Janette Stewart

Janette Stewart

Partner, Analysys Mason

Siada El Ramly

Siada El Ramly

Director General, DOT Europe

Philippe Lefebvre

Philippe Lefebvre

Head of Sector, 5G Deployment Strategy, European Commission

Luigi-Ardito-240

Luigi Ardito

Senior Director Government Affairs EMEA, Qualcomm

Jonas-Wessel 240

Jonas Wessel

Director, Resource Management Department, The Swedish National Post and Telecom Agency (PTS)

William Webb

William Webb

CTO, Access Partnership

Chris Woolford

Chris Woolford

Director, International Spectrum Policy
Ofcom

Bruno Cendon Martin

Bruno Cendon Martin

Director of Wireless - AR\VR HW
Meta

Peter Stuckman

Peter Stuckmann

Head of Unit, Future Networks, DG CONNECT
European Commission

Peng Zhao

Peng Zhao

Government Affairs and Policy
OneWeb

Maarit Palovirta

Maarit Palovirta

Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs
ETNO

Emma O'Toole

Emma O’Toole

Senior Manager, Spectrum
GSMA

Andreas Mitrakas

Andreas Mitrakas

Head of Market Certification and Standardisation Unit
European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)

Agenda

All times listed are in local Brussels time (CET). 

Day 1
2023-03-13
Day 2
2023-03-14
09:00 - 09:40
Keynote Presentations
Keynote Presentations image
Pearse O’Donohue
Director for Future Networks, DG Connect, European Commission
Keynote Presentations image
Kostas Masselos
Chairperson, BEREC
09:40 - 10:50
Session 1: Where are we? Progress in 5G network rollout & expansion

One of the key aims of the European Commission’s ‘Path to the Digital Decade’ targets was to deploy 5G in all populated areas by 2030. Member states are working hard to deliver on this target and continuing both allocation of key 5G spectrum bands and rollout of networks. However, progress in some areas remains slow, with the situation not being helped by wider societal challenges such as rising energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis affecting sales of smartphones. June this year will see the release of the first annual ‘State of the Digital Decade’ report, which will provide an opportunity to look at the progress being made and the extent to which member states are on track. This session will take stock of the current situation around Europe and at the progress that has been made. It will look at the challenges and obstacles that remain, and at how policymakers and industry representatives need to come together to ensure that these are overcome.
• What is the latest progress with regards to the allocation of spectrum in the 5G pioneer bands across the EU and the rollout of networks in these bands?
• To what extent can it be said that member states are on track to hit the targets, and what findings and recommendations can be expected from the forthcoming ‘State of the Digital Decade’ report?
• To what extent should the Commission be looking to take action against member states deemed to be behind schedule when it comes to the targets that are being set?
• To what extent are issues of excessive red tape and bureaucracy still causing a challenge and what impact can the revision to the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive (BCRD) and the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) have on addressing this?
• What is the state of play with regards to the development of cross-border corridors and the technologies that are required in order to enable 5G based services to cross from one country to another?
• What should be considered as ‘5G’ within the context of the deployment targets, and how can it be ensured that the deployment that is being reported meets the key standards that should be expected?
• What work is being done to study 5G quality of service or quality of experience in networks that are being rolled out, and to what extent is there a need to continue to track these metrics into the future?
• To what extent is the impact of rising energy costs providing an obstacle for 5G deployments or leading to MNOs altering plans for network rollout (for example when considering the high energy costs relating to massive MIMO antennas required for 3.5GHz networks)?
• Where does Europe sit on the global level when it comes to 5G deployment, and how can EU and national policymakers work together to remove barriers to deployment and ensure that we maintain pace with other regions such as the US and Asia?

Session 1: Where are we? Progress in 5G network rollout & expansion image
Moderator: Ilsa Godlovich
Director, Brussels Office, WIK-Consult
Session 1: Where are we? Progress in 5G network rollout & expansion image
Carlota Reyners Fontana
Head of Unit - Electronic Communications Policy, European Commission*
Session 1: Where are we? Progress in 5G network rollout & expansion image
Eric Fournier
Director for Spectrum Planning and International Affairs, Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR); & Chair, RSPG
Session 1: Where are we? Progress in 5G network rollout & expansion image
Luigi Ardito
Senior Director of Government Affairs EMEA, Qualcomm
Session 1: Where are we? Progress in 5G network rollout & expansion image
Cecil Ameil
Global Spectrum & Regulatory Policy, GSOA
Session 1: Where are we? Progress in 5G network rollout & expansion image
Pedro Mota Soares
Secretary General, APRITEL Portugal
10:50 - 11:15
Morning Refreshments
11:15 - 12:25
Session 2: Financing a long-term, sustainable 5G ecosystem – delivering the required public and private sector investment

Through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), Connecting Europe Facility Digital programme (CEF Digital) and other investment mechanisms, Europe is making an unprecedented level of public financing available in order to help drive forward the development of network infrastructures and boost 5G network rollout. Despite this, Europe still faces an investment gap in both private and public funding when compared to other regions. And with construction and energy costs related to the deployment of networks spiralling, telecom operators across Europe are stating that there is an urgent need for additional funding to deliver and maintain a long-term sustainable 5G ecosystem. They argue that part of this financial burden should be met by BigTech firms, who contribute a large proportion of the internet traffic that is seen. With a European Commission consultation around this issue scheduled for early 2023, this session will examine the arguments for and against this ‘fair contribution’ debate, and also focus on funding elements more broadly to explore the work that is being done to deliver the necessary public and private funding for 5G, and ultimately the best and fairest way forward to fund 5G and Europe’s digital future.

 

  • Where does Europe sit compared to other regions around the world when it comes to the levels of private and public funding that is being seen for 5G deployment?
  • Where should the balance lie between private and public 5G investment? How can policymakers and connectivity providers work together to plug the funding gap and ensure that the required investment is secured?
  • To what extent is it fair to ask larger content and application providers to pay a network usage fee to help bear some of the cost of Europe’s telecom networks?
  • What would be the socioeconomic effects of this approach, and what effect could it have on consumers, businesses and end users?
  • To what extent could it have an impact on innovation and competition within telecom markets and even on net neutrality principles?
  • What ultimately is the best and fairest way forward to find the required funding to continue to rollout and upgrade networks and secure Europe’s digital future?
Session 2: Financing a long-term, sustainable 5G ecosystem – delivering the required public and private sector investment image
Moderator: Clement Perarnaud
Research Fellow, CEPS
Session 2: Financing a long-term, sustainable 5G ecosystem – delivering the required public and private sector investment image
Peter Stuckmann
Head of Unit, Future Networks, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Session 2: Financing a long-term, sustainable 5G ecosystem – delivering the required public and private sector investment image
Maarit Palovirta
Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, ETNO
Session 2: Financing a long-term, sustainable 5G ecosystem – delivering the required public and private sector investment image
Siada El Ramly
Director General, DOT Europe
Session 2: Financing a long-term, sustainable 5G ecosystem – delivering the required public and private sector investment image
Liza Bellulo
General Secretary, Bouygues Telecom
Session 2: Financing a long-term, sustainable 5G ecosystem – delivering the required public and private sector investment image
David Abecassis
Partner, Analysys Mason
12:25 - 13:30
Lunch
13:30 - 14:45
Session 3: Cyber Security & 5G – Securing Europe’s 5G Networks and Architecture

Europe is continuing to lead the way when it comes to delivering a framework that secures 5G networks and architecture. Work continues on the implementation of the recommendations made by the EU Toolbox on 5G Cybersecurity, and alongside this, Member States, with the support of the European Commission and ENISA, earlier this year published a report providing an in-depth analysis of the security implications of Open RAN. In addition, the details of a new 5G cyber certification scheme are expected to be finalised by ENISA this year. This session will explore the collaborative efforts that are continuing across Europe to bolster cybersecurity and to counter the vastly expanded threat landscape resulting from the roll out of 5G. It will look at how specific 5G related security initiatives fit within the context of Europe’s broader cyber security framework, and at the work that is being done alongside international partners to secure the global supply chain.

 

  • What latest progress has been made with regards to the implementation of the EU 5G Toolbox across member states, and what challenges still remain?
  • What specific security challenges could be raised by the introduction of OpenRAN style architecture and how can these be addressed?
  • What were the key findings and recommendations of the member state report into this area, and what next steps are now being taken?
  • What progress has been made in moving forward with the proposed 5G cyber certification scheme?
  • What will the scheme look like and to what extent will it meet its objective of addressing the risks related to technical vulnerabilities of networks and increasing trust and security in 5G products and services?
  • What work is being done on an ongoing basis by the NIS Cooperation Group to continue to monitor and assess issues related to emerging trends and developments in the 5G supply chain, are there any other specific risk areas emerging?
  • How can emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain be harnessed to help secure the 5G supply chain?
  • How can the specific work being conducted on 5G security be co-ordinated with other related legislative cybersecurity measures such as the Council’s recommendation on critical infrastructure and the European chips act in order to further safeguard Europe’s broader digital ecosystem?
  • How is Europe working with other regions to ensure the security of the complex global 5G supply chain?
Session 3: Cyber Security & 5G – Securing Europe’s 5G Networks and Architecture image
Moderator: Samuel Tew
Principal Consultant, Axon
Session 3: Cyber Security & 5G – Securing Europe’s 5G Networks and Architecture image
Andreas Mitrakas
Head of Market Certification and Standardisation Unit, European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)
Session 3: Cyber Security & 5G – Securing Europe’s 5G Networks and Architecture image
Miguel Gonzalez-Sancho
Head of Unit, Cybersecurity Technology and Capacity Building, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Session 3: Cyber Security & 5G – Securing Europe’s 5G Networks and Architecture image
Katja Kmet Vrčko
Head of Supervision Department for Operators, AKOS and Co-chair, 5G Cybersecurity Working Group, BEREC
Session 3: Cyber Security & 5G – Securing Europe’s 5G Networks and Architecture image
Mikko Karikytö
Chief Product Security Officer & Head of Product Security, Ericsson
14:45 - 15:55
Session 4: 5G and Sustainability – Harnessing 5G to help achieve Europe’s climate targets

At the recent COP27 Summit, Frans Timmermans announced that Europe is raising its 2030 target of reducing gas emissions from 55% to 57%. With a recent study claiming that at least 40 percent of the bloc’s carbon reduction solutions will rely on fixed-line and mobile connectivity, 5G is set to play a crucial role in hitting these targets. From smart cities and optimized buildings to streamlined transport networks, real-time monitoring and energy management systems to increased efficiency of inventory stocks and manufacturing – if harnessed in the right way then 5G offers the potential to enable organizations and communities everywhere to reduce our carbon footprint and move towards a more sustainable economy. At the same time however, rollout of 5G networks will also require millions of new cell antennas and billions of new devices, which initially has the potential to actually increase energy consumption and contribute to the climate change problem. This session will explore the impact of 5G on climate change from both angles. It will look at the work that is being done to mitigate the impact of 5G rollout on the environment; and crucially, explore the potential that 5G and the new use cases that it will enable can help play a role in helping Europe in meeting ambitious national and EU-wide 2030 goals for decarbonization.

 

  • What latest estimates are being seen on the net environmental impact of 5G?
  • How can the rollout of 5G networks be sustainably managed in areas such as e-waste and energy demand to allay concerns about the possible environmental impact?
  • How are technology advancements, energy-saving solutions and intelligent management being applied to reduce energy consumption of networks?
  • What work is being done at a European level to develop indicators to measure the environmental footprint of 5G networks and to share best practices and a common approach to delivering sustainability across member states?
  • How can 5G be best harnessed to help contribute to the EU’s 2030 Climate Target Plan and more broadly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
  • How can policymakers, connectivity providers and vertical users work together to identify the best ways to deploy and use 5G based applications and services across different sectors in order to accelerate climate actions and the transition to a circular economy?
  • What 5G use cases have the biggest potential in helping to reduce carbon emissions and which sectors could be positively impacted in the best way? What work needs to be done to maximise this potential?
  • What is being done at a European level to support both the public and private sectors to accelerate their green and digital transformation and to reduce their carbon footprint?
Session 4: 5G and Sustainability – Harnessing 5G to help achieve Europe’s climate targets image
Moderator: Manuel R. Marti
Programme Manager, Tech UK
Session 4: 5G and Sustainability – Harnessing 5G to help achieve Europe’s climate targets image
Johannes Theiss
Team Leader, Policy Coordination, Future Connectivity Systems Unit, European Commission
Session 4: 5G and Sustainability – Harnessing 5G to help achieve Europe’s climate targets image
Lara Connaughton
Sustainability Lead, International Unit, Comreg
Session 4: 5G and Sustainability – Harnessing 5G to help achieve Europe’s climate targets image
Jean-Pierre Faisan
Chair of Communications Working Group, European Wireless Infrastructure Association (EWIA)
Session 4: 5G and Sustainability – Harnessing 5G to help achieve Europe’s climate targets image
Janette Stewart
Partner, Analysys Mason
Session 4: 5G and Sustainability – Harnessing 5G to help achieve Europe’s climate targets image
Azeddine Gati
Head of Department, Green ICT, Orange
15:55 - 16:20
Afternoon Break
16:20 - 17:30
Session 5: Where next? Powering the next wave of innovation through 5G Advanced and AI

5G Advanced is seen as the next major chapter of 5G development and is expected to deliver a whole new wave of new solutions and technology components. Amongst other things, it is expected to significantly improve the ways in which 5G can support AI and machine learning, which in turn has the potential to lead to more intelligent network management and improved performance of complicated, multi-antenna systems. This session will look at the differences that the emergence of 5G Advanced and AI-powered networks could make, the new features and enhancements that could emerge and the likely timeframe for this both in Europe and elsewhere. 

 

  • What new features and enhancements could we see as we move towards the next chapter of 5G development and the potential offered by a combination of 5G Advanced and AI starts to emerge?
  • When is it expected that 5G Advanced become a commercial reality both in Europe and elsewhere around the world?
  • How can 5G-A and AI be combined to improve the security, performance and efficiency of networks?
  • What differences will this make in reality compared to what is being seen in the current 5G market?
  • What new use cases could start to emerge and what is the potential offered across industries that look to leverage AI-powered 5G networks?
  • What framework for the regulation of AI is emerging in Europe, and how will measures such as the AI Act and the Digital Act help to shape the role that AI plays in future connected societies?
  • How could the movement towards 5G Advanced strengthen the role that satellites and NTNs play in 5G?
  • How can it be ensured that the benefits of this next wave of 5G evolution are realised as quickly as possible in Europe by all areas of societies, and what role do policymakers need to play in helping to facilitate this?
Session 5: Where next? Powering the next wave of innovation through 5G Advanced and AI image
Moderator: Marc Eschenburg
Partner, Aetha Consulting
Session 5: Where next? Powering the next wave of innovation through 5G Advanced and AI image
Bart Van Caenegem
Head of Sector – EIC Challenge-based Pathfinder, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
Session 5: Where next? Powering the next wave of innovation through 5G Advanced and AI image
Heidi Himmanen
Chief Adviser, Digital Connections, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom
Session 5: Where next? Powering the next wave of innovation through 5G Advanced and AI image
Andreas Mueller
Chairman, 5G-ACIA
Session 5: Where next? Powering the next wave of innovation through 5G Advanced and AI image
Marvin Chen
Chief Strategy Officer, Wireless Network, Huawei
09:00 - 10:00
Session 6: Looking back | looking forward – what lessons can be learnt from the 5G journey?

From the identification of early visions and technical goals through to eventual commercial deployment, the development of any new generation in wireless technology is broadly thought to have a 10 year cycle process. The path towards 5G in Europe can be said to have begun in 2012 with the launch of Project METIS – a multi stakeholder initiative, formed with the objective of laying the foundation of 5G. Now, just over a decade on and with 5G an established commercial reality, this interactive session will offer the opportunity to look back on the different phases of the 5G ‘cycle’, to discuss the successes and the failures, and as we move forward, look at the lessons that can be learnt.

 

  • If we had the chance to turn the clock back 10 years, what would you do differently? 
  • What has been successful and what has not?
  • What lessons can be taken forward as early thoughts on a 6G strategy begin?
Session 6: Looking back | looking forward – what lessons can be learnt from the 5G journey? image
Moderator: Marc Eschenburg
Partner, Aetha Consulting
Session 6: Looking back | looking forward – what lessons can be learnt from the 5G journey? image
Moderator: Soren Sorensen
Associate Director, NERA
Session 6: Looking back | looking forward – what lessons can be learnt from the 5G journey? image
William Webb
CTO, Access Partnership
Session 6: Looking back | looking forward – what lessons can be learnt from the 5G journey? image
Volker Ziegler
Senior Technology Advisor, Chief Architect, Nokia
Session 6: Looking back | looking forward – what lessons can be learnt from the 5G journey? image
Stephen Pentland
Group Policy & Public Affairs, Vodafone
10:00 - 11:10
Session 7: New business and connectivity models in an evolving 5G ecosystem

Telecom companies have invested heavily to roll out 5G services in countries across Europe, and there is now increasing pressure on them to explore new service offerings and business models in order to start seeing a return on these investments. At the same time, 5G is seeing the emergence of innovative new market entrants and shifting dynamics in the relationships between key industry players. Against this backdrop, this session will examine how traditional telco business models and the overall connectivity landscape is evolving in a 5G world. It will examine the changes that 5G is bringing to both the telecom ecosystem, and also to the way in which connectivity providers are interacting with both their customers and other technology providers. It will look at the opportunities that 5G offers for telecom and technology companies, and the best and fairest way forward in order to ensure the emergence of a long-term sustainable ecosystem that delivers economic value for them all. 

 

  • How has 5G impacted the profitability of MNOs and other connectivity service providers (CSPs) to date?
  • How are these companies and other players thinking beyond their traditional business models in order to deliver innovative new services to consumers and enterprises and drive 5G revenue streams?
  • How has 5G helped pave the way for new entrants and strategic alliances in the telecom market, and to what is extent is this driving a need for structural change within the industry and a move towards a more integrated connectivity model?
  • How is the relationship between telcos and OTT media companies evolving and what options are available going forward to ensure the long term sustainability of both sectors?
  • What impact could be seen by the emergence of immersive technologies such as the metaverse? What challenges and opportunities does this offer to telcos and how could may it necessitate further reorganisation of the telecom industry on an infrastructure level?
  • How is the emergence of private networks impacting the traditional market for connectivity services? What new business model options are emerging and how are connectivity providers and other stakeholders adapting to take advantage of these?
  • What are the possible directions ahead in order to ensure the emergence of a sustainable ecosystem that delivers economic value for all key 5G stakeholders – MNOs/connectivity providers, equipment vendors, OTT media companies, private enterprises, consumers and more? Is there a need for regulatory action to deliver this?
Session 7: New business and connectivity models in an evolving 5G ecosystem image
Moderator: Michael Opitz
Partner, Arthur D. Little
Session 7: New business and connectivity models in an evolving 5G ecosystem image
Cristina Data
Director of Spectrum Insight and Analysis, Ofcom
Session 7: New business and connectivity models in an evolving 5G ecosystem image
Philippe Lefebvre
Head of Sector, 5G Deployment Strategy, Future Connectivity Systems, DG CONNECT, European Commission
Session 7: New business and connectivity models in an evolving 5G ecosystem image
Lorelien Hoet
Director, EU Government Affairs, Microsoft
Session 7: New business and connectivity models in an evolving 5G ecosystem image
Lotte Abildgaard
Director Public Policy, Europe, GSMA
Session 7: New business and connectivity models in an evolving 5G ecosystem image
Roland Beutler
Distribution Strategy, SWR
11:10 - 11:30
Morning Break
11:30 - 11:45
Meeting Europe’s Evolving Connectivity Requirements for 5G and Beyond