Fulfilment of the promises of 5G according to business and industry stakeholders in Europe and the United Kingdom

Abstract

For businesses there is now the opportunity to incorporate fifth generation cellular technology (5G) into working practices to, for example, deliver contextual information in real time by ultra short latency and connect large numbers of devices, alongside artificial intelligence applications. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the development, implementation and the use of 5G in Europe, and to obtain an overview of developments associated specifically for occupational settings. We interviewed 14 experts from business, industry and (inter)national stakeholder organisations from the UK, Belgium, Spain, Poland and Switzerland between March and September 2023 using a semi-structured topic guide. Interviews were then transcribed, coded and analysed. Participants had mixed opinions about 5G as “it will not be the solution to the problems that we thought”, but “5G is still developing”. The introduction of 5G in workplaces was viewed as “pretty small” and in several countries “hasn’t been very well taken up”. Occupational settings where 5G had been initially incorporated included farming, manufacturing, airports, and university campuses. Introduction was also influenced by government-funded schemes to pilot 5G within businesses. Participants felt 5G could lead to a “natural evolution in factories”. However, this would require continuing investment in user equipment and resources, as “all equipment would need to be able to connect to the 5G network”. Experiences varied, but participants acknowledged that COVID-19 had had an impact on public perception, with misinformation being a prominent factor. Employment of 5G in industrial settings in Europe has been behind expectations, and to date mostly limited to test sites. Although work began in 2015, 5G deployment is continuing across Europe. Further research is needed to understand how businesses can effectively implement 5G.