This report is prepared by an external contractor for monitoring developments in the deployment of 5G in the EU and internationally, and assessing progress towards EU’s digital connectivity targets.

Launched by the European Commission in 2018, the 5G Observatory has evolved into a tool for evidence-based policy-making under the Digital Decade Policy Programme (DDPP). The 5G Observatory report provides on a yearly basis structured and policy-relevant data and analysis, which helps the Commission and the EU27 Member States assess progress, guide decision-making, and advance the EU’s digital objectives for 2030.

Findings of the 2026 report

The current edition shows that the EU is very close to achieving full basic 5G population coverage (96.8% of households) and slightly less close in terms of basic 5G rural coverage, which stands at 87.9%. However, mid-band coverage remains the main bottleneck in the EU. 5G coverage in the 3.4–3.8 GHz spectrum band is substantially lower than general 5G coverage in many countries (74.8% overall household coverage in this band). Rural mid-band coverage is particularly weak.

Internationally, countries such as South Korea, Japan, China, and India (in order of performance), consistently outperform the EU27 in both household and rural 5G coverage, often reaching near-universal coverage. The US and Australia are largely aligned with or slightly above the EU average, while Brazil lags significantly behind.

Across the EU Member States, 5G deployment remains predominantly based on non-standalone (NSA) architecture, which relies on existing 4G core, including in areas where mid-band has already been deployed. The number of 5G SA base stations is only at 20.9% of all mobile base stations. In contrast, 5G SA deployment in other advanced economies is higher and in 2025 stands at 36.2% in the US, 34.8% in China, 26.3% in Japan and 26.2% in South Korea. Australia (18.1%), Brazil (14.9%) and India (10.0%) are below the EU27 average.

Relative to leading global markets, the EU remains also less advanced in 5G investment intensity. Its 50.6% 5G share of all mobile investments is significant but below that of China (72.0%), South Korea (67.0%), the US (62.0%), and Japan (58.0%).

By 2025, the EU had reached 75.3% harmonised spectrum assignment, with many Member States at near or full assignment. However, the distribution across the EU27 remains uneven. Several Member States still report relatively low harmonised assignment despite otherwise advanced mobile markets.

Next to an overview of 5G indicators in the EU and internationally, this edition of the European 5G Observatory provides a deep dive into 5G private networks and 6G, with two dedicated focus sections. In relation to 5G private networks, the report shows that the EU trails other regions in terms of commercial deployment. In 6G, the EU benefits from globally competitive infrastructure suppliers, strong RAN engineering capabilities, and recognised leadership in energy-efficient networks, supported by a coordinated research and standardisation framework, notably through the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). These assets strengthen Europe’s ability to influence global standards and ensure interoperability.

However, challenges persist, including weaknesses in hyperscaler cloud services and AI development, reliance on external semiconductor supply chains, risks of diminished value capture in increasingly software-driven architectures, and exposure to geopolitical tensions and market fragmentation. As value shifts toward cloud management software and AI orchestration, the EU risks losing ground in higher-margin segments if these capabilities remain externally dominated.

You can download the full report and the scoreboard below.

More information about the 2026 5G Observatory report will be presented at this upcoming workshop.

Find out more about the 2026 State of the Digital Decade.