EU Needs €475 bn Mobile Network Investment by 2036 as 5G, AI and Digital Connectivity Drive €1.1 Trillion Economy

European Union (EU) will need €475 billion in telecom market investment between 2026 and 2036 to match global connectivity leaders, according to GSMA Intelligence. While operators are expected to invest €270 billion under existing network upgrade plans, an additional €200 billion is required to accelerate 5G deployment, AI-ready infrastructure, resilient networks and nationwide digital connectivity. Europe telecom operator Capex GSMA report 2026 Europe’s digital economy increasingly depends on m