en.Wedoany.com Reported - The European Commission is supporting a new wave of projects centered on 5G standalone networks, driving the transition from consumer mobile coverage to industrial infrastructure serving key sectors such as transport, logistics, and healthcare. These projects share a common approach: deploying standalone 5G networks integrated with edge computing, sensors, cloud, and artificial intelligence to deliver low latency and high reliability for mission-critical scenarios.
The logic behind these new projects marks a paradigm shift: 5G is no longer seen as an extension of consumer networks, but as a platform for vertical applications. Trains, ships, drones, ambulances, ports, and industrial facilities require continuity, security, and predictable response times. Compared to 4G-based networks, standalone architecture enables network slicing, distributed processing, and more precise quality of service management, which are crucial in logistics corridors. Brussels places these interventions within the framework of the Digital Decade strategy and the EU's Connecting Europe Facility Digital (CEF Digital) program, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of European industrial chains and reduce regional disparities.
The Multimodal-5G project is one of the most ambitious cases, planning to build a digital backbone of approximately one thousand kilometers between Greece and Bulgaria, connecting Heraklion, the Port of Piraeus, Athens, Thessaloniki, and Svilengrad, integrating maritime, rail, and urban transport. With EU funding of €10.1 million, the project runs from December 2025 to November 2028 and will use the 700 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3.5 GHz frequency bands. The project's trials involve not only the network but also IoT sensors, cameras, systems on trains and ships, cloud and edge capabilities, and AI-based analytics. Use cases include predictive maintenance, infrastructure monitoring, load control, fleet management, and route optimization. The Athens Metro is included as a connected urban node.
The 5G-Emcie project focuses on Ireland's east coast, connecting Dundalk to Rosslare Europort. Coordinated by Vantage Towers, with EU funding of €3.54 million, partners include Three Ireland and Wings. The project targets transport, logistics, road safety, and climate resilience, preparing infrastructure for connected vehicles, fleet management, and intelligent transport. As a gateway to continental Europe, stable coverage at Rosslare Europort strengthens Ireland's position in the European transport network.
Italy's 5G-Sesamo project has a total budget of €15.6 million, with EU funding of €11.7 million, running from February 2026 to January 2029. Coordinated by the National Sustainable Mobility Center (Most), partners include Tim, Cim4.0, Smact, Bi-Rex, Cyber 4.0, Meditech, Azienda Zero Piemonte, the National Research Council of Italy (Cnr), and the University of Naples Federico II (Università Federico II di Napoli). The project plans to deploy a public standalone 5G network, a federated hybrid network, and indoor private networks, complemented by edge computing and cloud access. Use cases focus on secure mobility and emergency services, smart logistics and drone delivery, risk detection in civil and production environments, and exploring quantum key distribution and AI training on high-performance computing infrastructure.
The 5G-Bridge project shifts focus to underserved Greek islands and rural communities, involving Crete, the North Aegean islands, Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and the municipality of Aigaleo in the Athens area. With a total budget of €9.3 million and EU funding of €6.9 million, the project runs from December 2025 to November 2028. Coordinated by Wings Ict Solutions, partners include Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and Grant Thornton. The project plans to upgrade approximately 50 sites using the 700 MHz, 2.6 GHz, and 3.6 GHz bands. The architecture includes a 5G Radio Access Network (RAN), standalone core, User Plane Function (UPF) deployment, network slicing, edge, and cloud. Applications cover smart and sustainable schools, telemedicine, fire monitoring, drone-based medical logistics, environmental monitoring, and predictive maintenance of public buildings.
These four projects demonstrate that connectivity alone is insufficient to drive operational model transformation; the enabling factor lies in the integration of networks, data, and applications. Environmental sensors, cameras, drones, and wearable devices generate continuous data streams. Edge computing allows data processing near the point of collection, and AI transforms it into decisions. For telecom operators, these projects promote B2B and B2B2G models, requiring them to integrate networks, edge, cloud, security, and application platforms, and to forge closer partnerships with industry and public administrations. Through the fourth round of calls under the CEF Digital program, total EU support for European 5G corridor and smart community projects has reached €327 million. This new wave of initiatives continues the direction set by projects like Brenner and Paris-Brussels. European 5G is moving from technical trials to the construction of measurable services. The challenge lies in transforming these pilots into replicable, sustainable, and interoperable models across Europe.
