Moving 5G from business to impact: 5G in operation
21 August 2025
Reading time: 4 minutes
For all the talk about 5G reshaping industries, the real shift is happening quietly - in warehouses, factory floors, logistics yards, and across remote sites. Consumer adoption gets the most attention, but it’s in business where the technology is making a measurable impact.
Across sectors, companies are experimenting with 5G to improve how they work and uncover new ways to streamline processes. These are practical deployments, often starting small but gaining traction.
Where is 5G delivering now?
Private 5G networks - mobile networks built exclusively for individual organisations - give businesses greater control over coverage, security, and performance. They’re making quiet inroads:
- In logistics, companies are trialling them to cut delays and keep systems running smoothly
- In manufacturing, the focus is on enabling connected machinery and using real-time data to fine-tune processes
Smart warehouse and industrial pilots have already shown operational gains by replacing older network infrastructure with private 5G. In logistics and energy, 5G is helping keep critical systems online and responsive, even in remote locations.
Beyond factories and warehouses, field teams in industries like utilities and infrastructure are using 5G tools such as augmented reality headsets and remote diagnostics apps to get live support on the job - instead of waiting on call-outs or paperwork. In healthcare, providers are testing whether 5G can make it easier to monitor patients remotely and keep clinical teams better connected (Deloitte Italia, 2024).
From pilot to scale
Many businesses start with isolated pilots - a single factory, a specific site - to test the waters. But moving beyond that takes planning. The key question is simple: is 5G going to fix something that’s holding us back?
- McKinsey flags automated production lines and self-driving systems as strong starting points (McKinsey & Company, 2024).
- BCG warns that unless commercial leads, tech teams, and finance are involved from the start, even strong use cases tend to stall (BCG Global, 2024).
To get beyond pilots, most organisations will need outside help. BCG sees partnerships with network providers and system integrators as critical for moving faster and avoiding costly missteps (BCG Global, 2024). McKinsey adds that having a clear view of the expected return at each phase of rollout keeps teams on track (McKinsey & Company, 2024).
Laying the groundwork
Before scaling, get practical:
- Identify operational pain points that 5G could realistically improve.
- Decide which capabilities to develop in-house and which to outsource.
- Set clear expectations for success, including timelines.
- Ensure systems and teams are ready to integrate with 5G-enabled tools and workflows.
The path ahead
5G is already working where businesses have taken time to identify the right fit. The ones making progress are using it where it matters - and expanding when it makes sense.
With more than £600 billion invested in 5G networks between 2022 and 2025 (McKinsey & Company, 2024), there’s no shortage of infrastructure. The challenge is making it count. BCG notes that rigid structures won’t cut it: success depends on nimble teams that can work across silos and act quickly when opportunities arise (BCG Global, 2024).
It’s still early in the wider 5G journey, but for businesses willing to move with purpose, results are starting to show.
Next steps
- Start with the problems, not the tech. What’s actually slowing your teams down?
- Get the right mix of people involved early. If tech, ops, and finance aren’t aligned from day one, progress will stall later.
- Don’t stop at the pilot. Proving it works in one site is only the beginning - the value comes from scaling.