The EU takes initiative to accelerate the research and innovation in 5G technology through their Public Private Partnership on 5G. The "fifth generation" of telecommunication systems, will be one of the most critical building blocks of our digital economy and society in the next decade.
In 2016, Europe started an action plan to meet the challenge of making 5G a reality for all citizens and businesses by the end of 2020. The plan consisted of multiple measures to set out a clear roadmap for public and private investment on 5G infrastructure. Some of the measures are: align roadmaps and priorities for a coordinated 5G deployment to move towards commercial large-scale introduction by the end of 2020 at the latest, Promote early deployment in major urban areas and along major transport paths; facilitate the implementation of an industry-led venture fund in support of 5G-based innovation and; unite leading actors in working towards the promotion of global standards.
The expectation is that 5G will cause an industrial transformation. It will enable industries to exploit any available wireless resources (from Wi-Fi to 4G) and to handle millions of connected devices simultaneously. Furthermore, 5G will support new types of applications connecting devices and objects (the Internet of Things) and versatility, by way of software virtualisation allowing innovative business models across multiple sectors.