Euronews Debates: How will 5G change Europe for the better?

The rollout of 5G is gaining traction in Europe, leading many to question how this new generation of mobile technology will change the way Europe lives, works and interacts.

The planned successor to 4G mobile networks, the 5G rollout is in process and the infrastructure is being laid out.

There are 214 5G networks already live, with the majority found in China, South Korea and the US.

Providing the fastest connection yet for mobile users, it’s crucial that Europe adapts the technology to stay level with global leaders.

You can watch the entire debate in the video player at the top of this page.

During the debate, Euronews Science Correspondent Jeremy Wilks asked an expert panel on the ways 5G is being implemented across Europe, how it will benefit European productivity, and the security and energy issues surrounding the technology.

The panel consisted of:

Alex Sinclair - CTO of GSMADr. Philip (Xiaodi) Song - Chief Marketing Officer, Huawei Carrier Business Group

European 5G coverage is behind markets in China, South Korea and the US, but there has still been significant momentum in the past few years.

There are 108 5G networks across 34 markets in Europe already, with a goal of at least one network in each EU market met in 2020.

One of the key issues halting the uptake of 5G in Europe is the complexity of navigating the breadth of network carriers across so many distinct states. While China’s population is over 1.5 billion people, there are just four major carriers in the country.

The comparative ease with which China can politically and commercially navigate 5G rollout is shown by its recent results.

In just three years, there has been incredible growth, Dr Song explains.

“By the end of October, 20-30 operators have launched