Charpentier, VincentVincentCharpentierLandi, GiadaGiadaLandiGiannopoulou, EleniEleniGiannopoulouBrenes, JuanJuanBrenesFrizzell, RonanRonanFrizzellIordache, MariusMariusIordachePatachia, CristianCristianPatachiaDemestichas, PanagiotisPanagiotisDemestichasBaldoni, GabrieleGabrieleBaldoniCaruso, AndreaAndreaCarusoGrasso, ChristianChristianGrassoSchembra, GiovanniGiovanniSchembraKorsic, LukaLukaKorsicMarquez-Barja, JohannJohannMarquez-BarjaSlamnik-Krijestorac, NinaNinaSlamnik-Krijestorac2025-04-292025-04-292025-04-2920251687-1472WOS:001471814300001https://imec-publications.be/handle/20.500.12860/45564The advent of advanced mobile communication systems like 5G and beyond holds promise for vertical sectors, particularly in transport & logistics (T&L), by enhancing network performance and ensuring high levels of quality of service (QoS), crucial for automating and optimizing T&L processes. However, assessing the impact of 5G requires investments in network infrastructure, posing time, and return on investment uncertainties. To address this, the European project VITAL-5G offers an open, virtualized, and flexible experimentation platform that provides 3rd party vertical stakeholders the opportunity to test and validate 5G-enabled services under realistic conditions. This paper explores the VITAL-5G platform’s capabilities, detailing the infrastructure that supports 5G standalone (SA) testing across multiple trial sites, including port and logistics environments. We highlight a subset of performed activities and experimentation campaigns, technical and operational challenges faced by 3rd party experimenters, and the potential business opportunities that emerge from 5G-enhanced services in the T&L sector. Finally, we present insights into future developments and opportunities for extending these capabilities to other vertical sectors.Journal article10.1186/s13638-025-02456-xWOS:001471814300001Computer science/information technology