Europe Needs €475Bn Investment to Strengthen 5G - Regain Digital Leadership
A GSMA Intelligence report estimates that Europe will need about €475 billion over the next decade to fully upgrade its mobile networks and stay competitive globally, but only around €270 billion is currently expected to be invested, creating a €205 billion funding gap.
Europe will require nearly €475 billion in investment over the next decade to upgrade its mobile networks and remain competitive in the global digital economy, according to industry analysis.
The report, produced by GSMA Intelligence, highlights that while this level of funding is necessary to achieve advanced connectivity standards, only around €270 billion is currently expected to be invested by operators. This leaves an estimated shortfall of about €205 billion.
The funding gap is seen as a major challenge for Europe’s ambition to compete with regions such as North America and Asia, where 5G deployment is significantly more advanced. For example, standalone 5G, considered the most advanced form of the technology, is already widely available in China and increasingly present in India, while Europe’s rollout remains limited.
Analysts point to weaker investment conditions in Europe as a key reason for the slowdown. Compared to leading markets, European operators generate lower returns per connection, while also facing declining revenues despite rising data usage. This reduces the amount of capital available for network expansion.
The report also notes that European telecom operators carry most of the financial burden for infrastructure development, contributing the majority of investment despite regulatory and market pressures.
To close the gap, the study suggests several structural reforms, including encouraging market consolidation, improving spectrum policies, and reviewing regulatory frameworks that may be limiting operator profitability and investment capacity.
Of the total investment gap, a large portion is required to expand 5G coverage along transport corridors such as roads, railways and waterways. Additional funding would be needed to extend full population coverage, strengthen network resilience, and support emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence-driven services.
Experts argue that without significant policy and investment changes, Europe risks falling further behind global competitors in next-generation connectivity and digital innovation.
Sponsored
Related stories
Tech & Education
NiTERAC Sets Dec. 15 for 2026 Tertiary Rankings
Nigeria's national ranking of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education is set to be published on December 15, 2026, subject to approval by the Minister of Education. Coordinated by the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee, the exercise will assess institutions using 22 indicators, with 4,203 academics already trained in high-impact publishing to help close the research gap flagged in global rankings.
Tech & Education
Covenant University Releases 2026/2027 School Fees for All Courses
Covenant University, Ota, has published its newly approved school fees for the 2026/2027 academic session, with Medicine and Surgery costing ₦4,639,405 for National students and $10,850 for international applicants, while Law stands at ₦2,872,474 and Engineering programmes at ₦2,159,280. The comprehensive fee schedule covers all colleges, including CLDS, CMSS, CST, CHS, CoE and LAW, with foreign students paying between $2,500 and $5,500 depending on the programme.
Tech & Education
African Universities Urged to Rethink Teaching in AI Era
At UNILAG's International Week, leaders from the University of Ghana, UNILAG and UNDP argued that AI makes memorisation-based teaching obsolete and urged universities to reform curricula, assessment and incentives to reward critical thinking and innovation.
Tech & Education
Otti’s Wife Supports 1,000 Abia Pupils With School Materials
The wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has distributed back-to-school materials to 1,000 indigent pupils from 50 public schools across the state's 17 local government areas, declaring that a child's background should never be a barrier to greatness. The intervention, organised by the Safe Tent Care Initiative in collaboration with the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, is designed to support families struggling to provide essential educational materials for their chil
Comments (0)
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before publishing. Your email is never published.