European 5G Human Connections Market Forecast 2024-2029

European market spending for 5G human connections is forecast to increase from $44.1 billion in 2024 to $83.1 billion in 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5%. Growth will be driven primarily by the migration of existing 4G connections to 5G plans, supported by widespread availability of compatible smartphones across price tiers and promotional efforts by operators. The European 5G human connection market evolution will be differentiated by geographic area. In the Western European (WE) market, 5G was commercialized from 2019, and 5G network deployments have grown steadily since. In 2025, WE accounted for 86% of total market spending and is expected to post a CAGR 2024-2029 of 11.9%. In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), 5G is at a more uneven stage of rollout: Operators in several countries have already deployed 5G networks in major cities (with more widespread coverage expected in the coming years), while other countries in the region are still working on auctioning 5G spectrum. The 5G market in CEE is expected to grow rapidly, with a five-year CAGR of 22.8%.By 2029, 47% of all human mobile connections in Europe are expected to be on 5G. However, market value is growing more slowly than number of connections. Fierce competition is keeping prices for 5G plans broadly aligned with those of legacy 4G services, resulting in ongoing average revenue per user (ARPU), erosion. Operators are increasingly seeking new monetization levers beyond “faster speeds”, such as bundling digital services, experimenting with tiered/premium plans or offering managed workforce solutions in the enterprise space. The launch of 5G standalone (SA) networks in several major markets opens the door for differentiated offerings (e.g., based on network slicing), but commercial impact remains limited at this stage.While consumers and small businesses account for the majority of European 5G spending, the enterprise segment provides an important strategic opportunity. Here, 5G can enable mission-critical mobile services that support productivity and operational resilience in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and public services — especially when integrated with services such as managed mobility, security, and device lifecycle offerings."Over the forecast period, total spending on the European mobile human connections 5G market will continue to grow, but value per connection will remain under pressure, unless operators can successfully commercialize premium-tier services, strengthen multi-device attachment or broaden their role in the digital value chain." — Senior Research & Consulting Director Daniela Rao, European Infrastructure and Telecoms, IDC Show more