Belgium Lags behind in European 5g Debate: Policy Proves more Decisive than Geography

Research shows that the success of 5G rollout in Europe primarily depends on timely spectrum allocation and well-thought-out policies.

The availability of 5G in Europe varies greatly by country. Belgium remains far behind compared to leaders in Northern and Southern Europe. This is not due to geography or population density, but mainly to the speed and policy surrounding spectrum allocation.

Policy Determines 5g Coverage

Recent research based on Speedtest Intelligence data shows that European countries have widely varying 5G coverage rates. While Denmark, Sweden, and Greece achieved more than 75 percent 5G availability in the second quarter of 2025, Belgium remained at a mere 11.9 percent. Other Western and Central European countries such as the United Kingdom and Hungary also score low. On average, European mobile users spent 44.5 percent of their time on 5G networks, compared to 32.8 percent a year earlier.

The differences are explained by policy choices. Rapid spectrum allocations, binding coverage obligations, and the promotion of infrastructure sharing prove to be crucial factors for successful deployment. In countries like Sweden and Italy, the recent activation of the 700 MHz band led to a significant increase in coverage. Belgium, on the other hand, faced years of delay due to political disagreements between regions and strict radiation standards in Brussels.

Slow Pace for 5g Standalone

Not only in terms of coverage, but also in terms of 5G Standalone (SA), Europe is lagging behind. Only 1.3 percent of Speedtest measurements in the EU are conducted via a 5G SA network. Spain is an exception with eight percent, partly thanks to the use of European recovery funds to support rural networks. In comparison, in the United States and China, the share is above 20 and even 80 percent respectively.

For Belgium, the late spectrum auction is also a factor. It only took place in 2022, three years later than planned. Meanwhile, Belgian operators used techniques such as Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) to artificially show 5G coverage, without realizing actual speed or capacity advantages.

The research points out that policy choices — not technological backwardness or geographical limitations — make the difference. Countries that allocate their spectrum faster and strategically are now reaping the benefits. Belgium faces the challenge of accelerating deployment if it wants to realize its digital ambitions towards 2030.