New qualitative study published in Scientific Reports examines how business and industry actors across Europe view the development and use of 5G

5G deployment in workplaces

A new GOLIAT study explores how business, industry and public-sector stakeholders across Europe perceive the development, implementation and early use of fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks. The research, led by researchers from the University of Bristol, reveals that the adoption of 5G in occupational settings remains limited and slower than initially envisioned.

This exploratory study, published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, interviewed 14 experts from industry, academia and government from the UK, Belgium, Spain, Poland and Switzerland. It explores how 5G is being developed and used in Europe and offers insights into why its adoption in workplaces remains slower than initially anticipated.

5G is expected to enable ultra-fast connectivity, low latency and real-time data processing, revolutionising sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, public safety and health care. Although implementation of 5G covers almost 90% of the European population, the interviewees reported that standalone 5G networks remain incompletely deployed and that business uptake is trailing expectations.

Limited 5G Use in Workplaces

Participants agreed that the current adoption of 5G in business environments “hasn’t been very well taken up”. Early uses are concentrated in manufacturing, farming, ports and airports, with the education sector showing increasing interest. Other areas identified as potential beneficiaries of 5G deployment include factories automating processes or emergency services, such as drones for rapid incident assessment.

Cost and Equipment Are Main Barriers

Within the barriers identified for the deployment in private businesses, the financial investment for the new equipment and resources needed to support 5G was mentioned as one of the major barriers, together with the lack of clear cost-benefit evidence.

Misinformation and COVID-19 Impacted Rollout

Stakeholders highlighted how conspiracy theories linking 5G and COVID-19 created public hostility which complicated deployment. The authors reference 100 arson attacks on 5G infrastructure “as a result of conspiracy theories”, including the burning of 77 mobile towers in the UK. At the same time, the pandemic also delayed access to hardware and slowed technical implementation.

Despite being marketed as a game-changing leap from 4G, experts said 5G has yet to deliver many of its promised capabilities. As one participant noted: “5G will not be the solution to the problems that we thought five years ago.”

Future studies

Paige M. Hulls, researcher at the University of Bristol and lead author of the study, says: “Given the complexity of the topic that has societal, environmental, engineering, and other impacts it is essential that future research takes an interdisciplinary approach. Future studies need to prioritise engaging with businesses, to understand their decision-making processes, and to explore why uptake has been lower than expected.”

“Future, more comprehensive, research would further benefit from inclusion of workers. Researchers should engage with employees working in 5G-implemented areas to ensure that any health concerns they may have regarding 5G exposure can be addressed”, says Frank de Vocht, researcher at the University of Bristol and last author of the study.

Methodology

Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 professionals between March and September 2023. Participants came from telecommunications companies, government bodies, emergency services, electromagnetic-field consultancy and academia. Interviews were transcribed, anonymised and coded using inductive thematic analysis.

Reference

Hulls, P.M., Castaño-Vinyals, G., Röösli, M. et al. Fulfilment of the promises of 5G according to business and industry stakeholders in Europe and the United Kingdom. Sci Rep 15, 42383 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-26376-4