Ookla discovered that Northern and Southern European international locations are main in 5G availability, thanks largely to 700 MHz spectrum deployments
A brand new report from Ookla characterizes Europe’s 5G rollout as a “two-speed” race — the place some international locations are sprinting forward, whereas others are limping behind.
In keeping with the agency’s newest information, Northern and Southern European international locations are main in 5G availability, thanks largely to 700 MHz spectrum deployments that considerably boosted protection. Ookla particularly known as out Sweden, which noticed a 21.3% year-over-year enhance in 5G availability, pushed by aggressive 700 MHz rollouts from Telia and Tele2. These efforts targeted on closing rural-urban gaps throughout Sweden’s expansive forested areas, backed by authorities digital inclusion subsidies.
Italy additionally made main strides, with a 20.5% YoY enhance in availability. Progress there was fueled by a number of elements: the sunsetting of 3G networks, spectrum refarming (together with WindTre’s repurposing of the 2100 MHz band), strategic use of EU restoration funds through the Nationwide Restoration and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and April 2024 reforms that eased electromagnetic subject (EMF) restrictions to speed up infrastructure buildout.
In distinction, Belgium, the UK and Hungary proceed to lag, with 5G availability ranges lower than half these of the leaders. Throughout the EU, cellular customers spent 44.5% of their time on 5G networks in Q2 2025, up from 32.8% a yr earlier.
Coverage, not geography, drives the divide
Whereas spectrum and infrastructure methods have accelerated 5G progress in some components of Europe, regulatory selections have hindered progress elsewhere. Within the U.Ok., as an example, the Telecoms Safety Act mandates pricey vendor rip-and-replace packages by 2027. Ookla additionally notes that the nation’s 2021 spectrum public sale lacked binding 5G protection obligations, as operators opted into the Shared Rural Community — a program targeted extra on 4G growth than next-gen deployment. These coverage decisions, compounded by post-Brexit funding gaps, have stunted 5G progress.
Europe’s 5G fragmentation is much less about geography and extra about regulatory execution. Ookla discovered that spectrum allocation timelines, protection obligations, funding mechanisms and infrastructure laws have a stronger correlation with 5G availability than inhabitants density, variety of operators or urbanization charges.
This policy-driven hole is obvious within the numbers:
- Denmark: 83.9% 5G availability
- Sweden: 77.8%
- Greece: 76.4%
Versus: - United Kingdom: 45.2%
- Hungary: 29.9%
- Belgium: 11.9%
5G Standalone: Everybody’s behind — besides Spain
With regards to 5G Standalone (SA) — a completely virtualized, cloud-native type of 5G — all of Europe continues to be taking part in catch-up. Ookla calls adoption “sluggish,” widening the hole with North America and Asia, the place U.S. and China boast SA pattern shares of 20% and 80%, respectively. (The GSMA agrees.)
Wanting forward: Regulation will make or break Europe’s 5G ambitions
“Persistent disparities in 5G protection and lengthy delays in harmonizing spectrum availability present that upcoming regulatory initiatives just like the DNA face a tall order to enhance Europe’s competitiveness in 5G deployment,” Ookla’s Luke Kehoe concluded.
Nevertheless, international locations that moved early on spectrum technique and embraced data-driven policymaking present that success is feasible — even when going through geographic or demographic challenges. As spectrum allocation and funding emerge because the defining elements, Europe’s 5G trajectory could rely much less on technical limitations — and extra on political will.
