5G Observatory report 2025

Following the publication of the White Paper "How to master Europe's digital infrastructure needs?" by the European Commission, there have been several developments in EU policy. 

The Commission conducted a public consultation on the White Paper's ideas, which concluded on 30 June 2024. This process gathered input from various stakeholders, including industry representatives, NGOs, and academic institutions, influencing the shaping of future legislative measures. On 6 December 2024, the EU Council approved conclusions on the White Paper, providing political guidance for future digital infrastructure initiatives. The Council emphasised the need for innovation, investment, and secure networks to bolster Europe's competitiveness. 

Early 2025, the Commission announced plans to propose the Digital Networks Act (DNA) by the end of the year. The DNA aims to establish a unified regulatory framework to address investment needs, ensure a level playing field, and enhance the security and resilience of digital infrastructures. 

Findings of the 2025 report

As of its 2025 edition, beyond its internal EU focus, the 5G Observatory has expanded its scope to include comprehensive global benchmarking. It collects comparable data from key non-EU countries and regions, including EU candidate countries. At the same time, global benchmarking with leading digital economies provides valuable insights into Europe’s strategic positioning, investment patterns, and infrastructure readiness.

Since the 2024 5G Observatory report, interest in EU public funding for 5G and 6G remains strong. The European Commission and the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) have allocated over €300 million additional funding to support advanced research, infrastructure deployment, and innovation in next-generation networks, through several funding calls of SNS, Horizon Europe (cluster 4) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

As far as main commercial developments are concerned, it is observed that the rollout and expansion of basic 5G networks across the EU has grown, with 5G coverage increasing in all Member States. There has also been a continued effort by EU mobile operators to launch 5G standalone (5G SA) services across the EU, although the deployment of SA services remains limited, and their information is not always available about the extent of operator rollouts. Private 5G networks, on the other side, have been growing exponentially, despite being still at a relative infancy stage compared to other international countries, such as China and the United States.

In terms of international comparison, the EU, with 94.3% 5G (NSA and SA) households’ coverage (at end 2024), is in the top tier globally, just slightly behind global leaders. South Korea led with 100% coverage, followed closely by Japan (99.2%), Norway (99.0%), and Iceland (99.0%). USA (97.0%), India, China, UK, and Liechtenstein (all 95%) also exceed or match the EU's coverage rate. Australia (91.0%) and North Macedonia (93.0%) are comparable to the EU average, with advanced network infrastructure even outside traditional tech powerhouses. Major international developments confirm the continued global investment in 5G networks. The ITU reports that 51% of the global population is now covered by 5G (including both SA and NSA 5G coverage). The GSMA predicts that, by 2030, 5G will make up 57% of all mobile connections and become the dominant mobile technology. There is also growing interest in the development of non-terrestrial 5G networks (NTN).

The current state of play in authorisation of 5G bands indicates limited progress compared to the last reporting period, most notably due to the fact that the 700 MHz and 3.6 GHz bands have now been assigned across all Member States, except for the 700 MHz band in Malta, while the 26 GHz band has been authorised only in 12 Member States. As such, the authorisation of the 5G pioneer bands, which should have been completed in all EU Member States by end 2020, has not been completely fulfilled yet.

The most recent assignments took place in Poland, with an auction in the 700 MHz band and the Netherlands, with an auction in the 3.6 GHz band. There is also a continued interest in local spectrum assignment mechanisms across EU Member States, with recent developments in France.

Download the 5G Observatory Report 2025 (.pdf)

Download the 5G Observatory Scoreboard 2025 (.pdf)

NB 5G in Albania was launched end of November 2024 and has yet t be launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine.

NB 5G in Albania was launched end of November 2024 and has yet t be launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine.

NB 5G in Albania was launched end of November 2024 and has yet to be launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine. Data is not available in Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, United Kingdom, USA, Brazil, Australia, and Japan.  

NB 5G in Albania was launched end of November 2024 and has yet t be launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine. Data is not available in Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, United Kingdom, USA, Brazil, Australia, and Japan.

NB 5G in Albania was launched end of November 2024 and has yet to be launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine.