5G: A holistic view is the key to success, CIOs emphasise

Beltug’s 2025 Belgian Business ICT Market Study details the results of a broad survey of 1,159 respondents, with the findings discussed by a panel of ICT decision-makers during a round table discussion. The full downloadable report is available for members after login. Brief summaries are available (in French and Dutch), including a summary infographic (no login required). We have also published a 7-page report on the findings of the CIO panel here.

5G – the fifth generation of mobile network technology – should pave the way for new applications across virtually all sectors. Still, when we think of 5G, our first thoughts often turn too quickly to industrial settings, such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in factories. “But there are many more potential applications beyond production and logistics,” asserts one CIO. “Banking, healthcare – the opportunities are everywhere.”

Defining the real needs

In the 2023 Beltug survey, 60% of Belgian companies with 200 or more employees indicated that 5G would have a significant impact on their organisation. Two years down the road, however, CIOs are finding that this 5G adoption is taking longer than expected. “The question is what you need,” explains one decision-maker. “You have to consider the various possibilities the technology offers and then determine what’s important for which vertical. In production, the need for 5G is clear. The same goes for entertainment and healthcare.”

The panel of ICT decision-makers underlines the importance of keeping the wider perspective in mind. A single self-driving car doesn’t make a solid case. But this presents a clear challenge: if everyone stays in their isolated silo, the likelihood of success is slim. One CIO uses the chicken-and-egg analogy: “You only reap the real benefit of 5G when you combine large data volumes with the need for low latency. But to fully automate processes and deploy AI, you first need 5G. So you have to look at the big picture and consider the interconnections.”

Another CIO points to the early days of 3G. “At the time, people wondered why you would want 3G. But then the iPhone came along and everything changed. It’s the same with 5G. Many may not immediately see why they would need it but that will change as advanced applications that require low latency emerge.”

Network slicing in practice

The panel illustrates the added value of network slicing using several case studies. Dedicating a portion of the 5G network to specific applications guarantees the capacity and bandwidth needed:

• At the Port of Antwerp, which served as a 5G test hub in Belgium, the real added value came through slicing the 5G network.
• At the NMBS Belgian National Railway Company (NMBS), conductors now use their smartwatches to signal train departures. However, with passengers consuming large amounts of mobile data, bandwidth can quickly get exhausted. Geofencing and network slicing ensure the conductors’ signals are always prioritised on the network.

These are the kinds of applications where 5G adds real value.

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