5G, Global Growth and New Opportunities Including for Italy

5G continues its global expansion and is entering an increasingly mature phase, where coverage is no longer the only relevant metric. The real transformation lies in the ability of networks to generate innovation, new services, and economic value. This is the picture outlined in the “State of 5G 2026” and “5G Connectivity Index” reports by GSMA Intelligence, which describe a sector that is growing rapidly and consolidating at pace.

At a global level, 5G has already reached a significant milestone: more than half of the world’s population is now covered by 5G networks, and active connections have surpassed 2.7 billion. Despite this strong acceleration, 4G remains widely used, confirming a gradual but steady transition toward next-generation technologies.

According to GSMA Intelligence, the industry is entering a new phase of development. After the initial rollout driven mainly by non-standalone networks, attention is now shifting toward 5G Standalone, 5G-Advanced, and deeper integration with artificial intelligence. These developments are paving the way for low-latency services, advanced industrial applications, and new solutions for IoT and mission-critical use cases.

The “Connectivity Index” evaluates 39 markets and highlights a multi-speed landscape that is nonetheless dynamic. Leading positions are held by highly advanced economies such as the United States, South Korea, and several countries in the Gulf region and Northern Europe, where 5G ecosystems are already fully developed. Just behind them is a broad mid-tier group, including much of Europe, which is steadily strengthening its infrastructure and services.

Within this context, Europe also shows a positive trajectory: despite the absence of a clear global leadership position, it benefits from wide 5G availability and a solid infrastructure base. Nordic countries stand out for their more advanced implementation levels and service quality, while the continent as a whole is experiencing steady progress.

A key point highlighted in the report is the so-called “coverage paradox”: in many markets, networks now reach nearly the entire population, but differentiation increasingly depends on quality, performance, and the ability to develop advanced services.

Italy, solid foundations to accelerate

In this scenario, Italy is positioned in the mid-tier group with around 54 points. The country has made significant progress in recent years: coverage has expanded substantially, prices have become more affordable, and 5G adoption has steadily increased among users and in data traffic.

The development potential remains broad and evolving. The main growth drivers include strengthening 5G Standalone deployment, further improving network quality, and developing advanced digital services. While some components are still in the consolidation phase, the overall path is already underway and aligned with broader transformations across leading European markets.

The most relevant opportunities are concentrated in areas such as Fixed Wireless Access, advanced Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, and low-latency services like cloud gaming and augmented reality. These sectors represent the next growth phase of 5G and could contribute significantly to economic and industrial development in the coming years.

Wireless & Towers 2026, scheduled from 7 to 9 October 2026 at Bologna Exhibition Center, is the first international trade fair and conference in Southern Europe dedicated to transmission towers, infrastructure, telecommunications technologies and equipment, broadcasting, satcom, geospatial applications, security sectors, smart cities, emergency management, and territory services.

The event is part of the new European exhibition hub Urban Tech 2026 -The Urban Technology Show (e-mobility, traffic, commuting, security, telecom & data, environment).