The European 5G Conference 2024

Last year’s State of the Digital Decade report highlighted concerns about the progress towards the European Commission’s 2030 connectivity targets. It found that 5G networks currently cover only 50% of the EU’s territory, with performance levels falling short of what is needed to provide advanced 5G services. Beyond 5G, the report also pointed out slower than expected progress in the adoption of technologies like AI and cloud computing, as well as the overall pace of digital transformation. This session will examine whether these concerning findings reflect the reality, and if so, identify the contributing factors and discuss the ongoing and necessary efforts to get back on track. It will start with an exclusive presentation by Connect Europe of their annual State of Digital Communications Report, offering an update on the rollout of 5G and related digital technologies across Europe. Following this, panellists will review and discuss the actions taken at the member state level since the report’s release to adjust national roadmaps and address identified gaps; and explore how stakeholders can collaborate to regain momentum and secure a leading position in the future development of advanced 5G and other related communication technologies.
 

• What are the most significant gaps identified in last year’s State of the Digital Decade report concerning 5G deployment and digital transformation, including in the delivery of connectivity and digitalisation to rural areas and beyond large cities? 
• To what extent are these findings echoed in the Connect Europe report released today, and what picture is being painted of the overall strength of the digital communications sector in Europe?
• Is Europe falling behind other regions in the world when it comes to 5G, and if so, what (if any) impacts are being seen?
• What adjustments to national roadmaps and plans have been seen across member state levels since the release of the report? To what extent can these have an impact on delivering the ambitions that are targeted?
• What impact can the Draghi and Letta reports have on delivering new momentum to the drive towards the 2030 targets, and how could these impact measures that are being taken at both a European and member state level?
• What measures can Governments take to boost investment and competitiveness in the digital economy, and how are these strategies being implemented at the national level? 
• Based on the progress that has been made to date, is there a need to redefine Digital Decade targets and KPIs? If so, then how can the move towards 5G standalone and 5G advanced be reflected in any new targets that are being set?

Last year, the European Commission published their whitepaper ‘How to master Europe’s digital infrastructure needs?’, with the aim of setting a blueprint to deliver the connectivity networks of the future and achieve a true Digital Single Market. It is now down to the new Commission to look at how to take this forward and at whether to proceed with the delivery of the ‘Digital Networks Act (DNA)’ that was proposed. Against this backdrop, this ‘speed pitch’ session will hear from different stakeholders on what they see as the key priorities for the new Commission when it comes to 5G and other key technologies, and more broadly on the path forward in order to deliver the future “Connected Collaborative Computing” (the 3Cs). It will look both at the whitepaper proposals and beyond and gauge opinion on the best way forward for Europe to seize the opportunities that exist and avoid being left on the sidelines of digital evolution.
 

Participants will have 5 minutes each to deliver their ‘pitch’ to the new European Commission. They will each be asked to address 2 key questions:

• What should be the key priorities for the new Commission in accelerating the deployment and adoption of 5G across Europe? 
• What broader roadmap would you like to see for 5G and other related technologies, and to what extent do you feel that the development of a new “Connected Collaborative Computing” (the 3Cs) ecosystem should be a legislative priority?

One of the biggest challenges faced when it comes to rolling out 5G networks in Europe has been securing access to the necessary funding and investment. In the face of falling revenues and profits, Europe’s largest telecom groups have been calling for support in order to help them invest the billions that are required to hit key 5G rollout targets. This session will look at the investment environment that is currently seen in Europe and whether changes are indeed needed in order to keep 5G on track. With the recent Letta and Draghi reports both highlighting sector consolidation as a way of boosting investment, it will discuss arguments around this and how it could impact the ability of operators to reach the scale needed to invest in the networks of the future. It will also discuss whether changes need to be made in order to create a regulatory level playing field for MNOs, big tech, and other stakeholders. Finally, it will look at some of the different public funding instruments that are available and at how the impact of these can be maximised and focused in the right areas to make maximum impact. 
 

• 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 allocated towards 5G deployment?
• Is fragmentation of the mobile sector impacting the ability of operators to reach the scale to invest in network rollout? To what extent could increased in-market consolidation address the investment shortfall and improve European competitiveness?
• What were the conclusions of the recent Letta and Draghi reports in this area, and how can consolidation be balanced with the need to ensure a competitive telecoms market?
• Where do the discussions currently lie around the delivery of a regulatory level playing field between mobile operators and big tech, and what are likely to be the next steps in this area?
• What impact has been seen from public funding mechanisms such as Horizon, CEF, and others; and how are these being linked with policy goals and objectives (for example, sustainability, security) to ensure that the required funding is directed in the right places?
• 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?

As the deployment of 5G networks continues to accelerate and connected devices becomes more embedded in our everyday lives, so do the associated security risks. This discussion will explore the measures that have already been taken by both connectivity providers and regulators to mitigate risks, and looking forward, it will discuss how cyber security challenges are evolving and what needs to be done to secure the next-generation networks.
 

• What specific security concerns are raised by 5G, and how are regulators and connectivity providers working together to develop sophisticated solutions in order to tackle these?
• What emerging threats, attack vectors, and trends are being seen as we move towards the next generation of connectivity – 5G Advanced and beyond?
• What updates may need to be made to existing regulations and cyber frameworks to cope with these?
• How is the emergence of new technologies such as quantum communications and AI affecting both sides of the cyber security battleground (both in terms of enabling smarter, more complex, and sophisticated threats from cyber criminals) and also aiding in the development of more proactive and adaptive security measures?
• How important is sharing of information, threat intelligence, and  best practice in order to address the evolving threat landscape? To what extent is this being seen both at a European and global level, and can more be done?

Similarly to all other industries and sectors around Europe, the telecommunications sector is being challenged to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations. Against this backdrop, sustainability as well as performance is becoming a big part of decisions that are being taken by connectivity providers and policymakers when it comes to 5G, and pressure is increasing from all sides to both ensure that systems are in place to monitor the environmental impact of 5G networks and that efforts are then made to ensure this impact is minimised throughout the 5G value chain. This session will examine the strategies that are currently being seen around Europe and the way in which emerging new technologies and thinking can play a part moving forward to increase the energy-efficiency of 5G rollout and operation. It will cover efforts at both European and member-state levels to track emissions in the connectivity ecosystem and develop indicators to measure 5G networks’ environmental footprint, examining progress on a European ‘Code of Conduct’ for sustainable electronic communications, which is due to be published by the end of 2025.
 

• How are technology advancements, energy-saving solutions, and intelligent management being applied to increase sustainability across the 5G value chain?
• What work is being done at a European and member state level to map emissions across the connectivity ecosystem and to develop indicators to measure the environmental footprint of 5G networks? Is a clearer picture starting to emerge on which areas are having the biggest impact when it comes to greenhouse gases and on where specific policy actions may need to?
• What is the current state of play with regards to the development of a European ‘Code of Conduct’ for the sustainability of electronic communications networks? How could this fit in the context of existing Codes of Conduct focusing on Data Centres and Broadband Equipment, and also broader legislative programmes, such as the EU Green Deal? 
• How can it be ensured that there is not a disconnect between sustainability targets and licencing conditions, particularly when it comes to obligations to rollout networks in rural, sometimes off-grid, regions? 
• As we move towards 6G, how can we ensure that we build on the progress that is already being seen in this area and that sustainability is at the heart of the rollout of new networks?

In his recent book ‘The End of Telecoms History’, William Webb argued that “those who are well connected, with good home broadband and good mobile coverage – even if it is only 4G – have all the connectivity that they need.” He predicts that that mobile data usage will “plateau at around 15-20 Gbytes/user/month” and that data volume growth will cease in 2027. These findings were disputed in a follow-up paper from Stefan Zehle, who highlighted a large variation in data usage across different countries and markets and noted that “in many markets mobile data usage already exceeds 20 Gbytes/user/month with significant growth rates”, arguing that this discrepancy is often linked to price and quality of service. This fireside chat will hear from both parties on their relevant perspectives, and explore whether this is indeed the end of telecoms as we know it, or whether as we move towards 5G advanced and 6G, the demand for faster networks, more fibre and the next generation of mobile technology is here to stay.

Key connectivity goals were set as part of the EU’s Digital Decade strategy, targeting 5G coverage for all urban areas and transport paths by 2025; and in all populated areas by 2030. What isn’t completely clear, however, is what the definition of 5G relating to this is, and this was picked up in a recent European Commission report, which recommended a need to ‘clarify the definition of “5G coverage” and its relationship to Quality of Service, to provide clearer policy goals which ensure that 5G economic and societal benefits are delivered.’ Against this backdrop, this session will explore this exact point and look at how 5G should be defined and the level of coverage, speed, and service that we should be looking to achieve. It will discuss the different strategies and technologies that provide options to deliver 5G connectivity in different scenarios and regions and where the balance lies to ensure both societal and economic benefits of 5G are met.
 

• What are we actually trying to achieve with the 5G coverage targets that have been set as part of the Digital Decade strategy, and what definition of 5G should be used in order to deliver on this?
• What priorities should be set in order to meet specific connectivity requirements in different scenarios, such as transport corridors, industry/business parks, and rural settings? 
• Should we only be looking to deploy high-speed ‘optimal’ 5G using mid-band spectrum (eg 3.6 GHz); or should the definition of ‘coverage’ should include connectivity using the sub-1 GHz bands where the 5G experience arguably closely resembles 4G? 
• What role can NTNs and other emerging technologies be part of this ‘mix’ to deliver on the 5G targets beyond the main urban and populated areas? 
• Is it realistic to achieve ubiquity and hit the targets using high-speed 5G, or is there a middle ground that maximises the societal and economic benefits of 5G across all regions and delivers this at an affordable price?
• Taking things one step further, is there actually a need for 5G to be rolled out across the entire region, or is there an argument that initially it is more important to focus more on coverage rather than speed and ensuring ubiquity across Europe, whether it be through 4G, 5G, or even, in some cases, previous generations?

The initial promise of 5G was transformative, with expectations of revolutionizing industries, communities, and creating new business models across multiple sectors.  However, the reality of 5G today is more complex and nuanced. While 5G has delivered on some of its promises, such as enhanced speeds and low-latency connections in specific scenarios, the rollout and growth of anticipated use cases has been slower than expected. As 5G matures and 5G-Advanced slowly becomes a reality, this session will discuss the extent to which we are entering a ‘transformational’ phase, which could finally see the evolution of 5G into a tool that, through partnerships, convergence, and targeted business models, is enabling specific, high-impact applications in industries where advanced connectivity truly adds value. It will discuss the extent to which telcos are starting to think beyond their traditional services to integrate technologies such as cloud and edge computing alongside 5G to provide more end-to-end solutions, and separately, will explore the way in which low and medium power localized networks are emerging as a powerful means for enterprises to leverage tailored connectivity solutions.
 

• How have 5G business models evolved and developed since its initial launch and commercialisation back in 2019?
• What has been learnt in this time, and what are the problems that have been holding back the emergence in which areas is most growth being seen (consumer markets / gaming / business ecosystem / development of private 5G networks etc.)?
• What are the best examples of 5G business model successes, and how could these successes be replicated elsewhere?
• Has a ‘killer app’ for 5G emerged? If so, what is it; or if not, is it ever likely to and what could it be?
• How are network operators and other players thinking beyond their traditional business models in order to deliver innovative new services and drive 5G revenue streams? Could convergence of services with other technologies, such as edge or cloud computing, be the key that finally monetises 5G?
• How is 5G enabling private and localized networks and how can the emergence of 5G advanced help to further enhance this? What were the findings of the recent CEPT report into the use of the 3.8 – 4.2GHz for this local area connectivity, and what work is being done more broadly to overcome technical, financial, and regulatory challenges related to low and medium power networks of this kind?
• To what extent could the speed and performance boost that is promised by 5G-Advanced help the development of new business models and use cases across vertical industries, and help to enable 5G to finally live up to the hype? 

As Europe begins to shape its vision for 6G, it is vital to reflect on the key insights gained from the development, deployment, and adoption of 5G. From the initial research stage through to full commercial rollout of 5G networks, this session will explore the challenges and successes experienced and look at the lessons that can be taken forward to inform the development of a robust and forward-looking 6G strategy. Focusing on research, standardisation, investment, allocation and assignment, licencing and more, it will provide a comprehensive view on how Europe can lead in the global 6G landscape while avoiding the pitfalls encountered with 5G.
 

• How successful can it be said that 5G has been in Europe to-date, and what lessons can be taken forward as we move towards 6G? 
• To what extent has the leadership at an EU level been successful in building and delivering on a 5G strategy, and is there a need to rebalance any element of how EU and national policymakers are working together?
• With 5G initially very much focused around performance and speed, did this arguably become a distraction and lead to other areas such as the need for ubiquitous coverage indoors and in rural areas to be neglected? If so, then how can this situation be avoided for 6G?
• What role did Europe play in the global standardisation efforts early in the 5G development process, and should the approach to this be changed as we move towards 6G?
• How can we foster a culture of innovation and collaboration among academia, industry, and government to drive 6G research and development? Are there lessons that can be taken from experiences with 5G in this area?
• To what extent has underinvestment been an issue within the 5G ecosystem, and how can this be addressed as we move towards 6G?
• If we had our time again, what changes could be made to the way in which the 5G pioneer bands were identified and rolled out in Europe? Was there enough coordination, and if not, how could improvements have been made in this area?
• As we move towards 6G, to what extent is fully aligned assignment of spectrum across the EU a reality? Where does the balance lie between harmonisation and the need to allow for flexibility between member states? Is there an argument to look at extending licence periods as we move towards 6G?

WRC-23 saw the allocation of a number of new spectrum bands to be used for 5G services. With this new bandwidth, the ITU said it will now be easier to provide a ‘clear roadmap’ for the evolution of 5G and the development of its next iteration: 5G-Advanced. Now more than a year on, this session will provide the opportunity to look in detail at progress that has been made in this area, and more broadly at the work that is taking place towards the development of a spectrum roadmap for 5G-Advanced and further forward towards 6G. It will look at the key frequency bands that are already shaping the future of wireless networks and at the bands that are set to play a part in delivering the next generation of connectivity. And finally, attention will be given to how spectrum in these bands should be allocated, licenced and used to ensure that their potential is maximized, and how technology and policy advances can be built into existing roadmaps to deliver a forward-looking approach to ensure global leadership for Europe.
 

• What roadmaps are in place for the deployment of 5G standalone and 5G-advanced, and what progress has been made in delivering on these?
• What barriers still exist, and how can these be overcome?
• To what extent should the emergence of 5G-advanced be seen as a crucial stepping stone towards 6G? How can stakeholders across Europe balance the need to look forward towards 6G whilst also considering the growing connectivity needs of 5G Advanced in the shorter term?
• How can it be ensured that respective roadmaps and plans developed for 5G-A and 6G are complementary in terms of spectrum bands, licencing and allocation plans, regulatory frameworks, and more?
• What will be the spectrum requirements for an introduction of 6G mass market in the EU to meet both capacity and coverage needs? When will this bandwidth be required?
• Is it inevitable that the spectrum within one or more of the candidate bands that have been identified for study for IMT use ahead of WRC27 (4400 – 4800 MHz; 7125 – 8500 MHz and 14.8 – 15.35 GHz) will be used as the bedrock for initial rollout, or are there other possible options to consider?
• What role is spectrum allocated on a licenced, unlicenced, and shared basis set to play a part in meeting future connectivity needs? 
• What work is being done to work towards coordinating 6G band plan at a European level, and to what extent can a fully harmonised approach be delivered?