Firms could run their own 5G
Irish businesses could soon commission mobile networks built specifically for their own sites, rather than relying entirely on public coverage from Vodafone, Eir or Three. The prospect was set out in an Irish Times piece published on 9 November 2026, written by an industry executive, which described private networks as a major shift for Irish digital infrastructure.
According to that piece, ComReg has “published decisions and draft regulations for a licensing framework that will support the next technological leap for Irish businesses.” It said the framework “will enable organisations beyond traditional telecommunications providers (such as Vodafone, Eir or Three) to access the 5G spectrum for the purpose of building their own private 5G networks.”
The same piece stressed that the regulations have not yet been finalised. It said that “while the regulation changes still have to be finalised, the direction of travel is clear”, adding that “an Irish business will be able to commission a connectivity network purpose-built for its own site and operations, rather than depending entirely on the coverage and priorities of a publicly accessible network.”
The Irish Times
- ComReg’s move to allow private 5G networks will transform Ireland’s economy
Recently, ComReg published decisions and draft regulations for a licensing framework that will support the next technological leap for Irish businesses.
What a private network does
A private 5G network is designed for a particular place, such as a factory, port or university campus. The organisation specifies where coverage is needed, which devices can connect and how traffic is managed, while keeping critical applications separate from general internet use.
“This technology gives organisations complete control over their wireless infrastructure, delivering secure, low-latency connectivity across large operational sites where conventional wifi or public cellular networks may be unable to meet business-critical requirements,” the author wrote.
The uses cited include robotics, industrial AI, autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things devices, edge computing and real-time operational analytics. Sectors named are manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, logistics, ports, utilities and higher education.
The example given is a crane lifting a shipping container while its operator controls the machinery remotely. “If the connection drops, the operator loses the live video and control feed,” the piece said, adding that interruption could create a serious safety risk and halt operations completely.
The Irish Times
- ComReg’s move to allow private 5G networks will transform Ireland’s economy
Recently, ComReg published decisions and draft regulations for a licensing framework that will support the next technological leap for Irish businesses.
Why Ireland is catching up
The piece argued that Ireland has been behind European counterparts on enterprise access to spectrum, and now has an opportunity to catch up. It pointed to Britain and Germany as earlier movers, noting “the UK offering local shared access to spectrum since 2019” and that “Germany has also given industry a route to local networks.”
The Port of Liverpool was cited as an example, having deployed private 5G across its 40-hectare site to support logistics, robotics and connectivity requirements. That deployment was said to have delivered a tenfold improvement in network performance while enabling real-time operational data, automation and safer port operations.
Elsewhere in Europe, local licensing is already in use. In the Netherlands, Shell has “acquired three permits to use the 3.5 GHz band to build private 5G networks at its refineries in the Port of Rotterdam”, taking the Dutch market to “a total of 63 local private 5G network licences in the band.”
In Sweden, the regulator opened a consultation on five-year local permits in the 3.8 GHz band for private 5G and other high-demand wireless networks. The Swedish authority “proposed making the 3,800-3,920 megahertz (MHz) and 3,990-4,130 MHz ranges available for local permits, for both indoor and outdoor use at a given property.”
At EU level, a draft Commission Implementing Decision “aims to designate and harmonise the technical conditions for the shared use of the 3 800 - 4 200 MHz frequency band by low and medium power terrestrial wireless broadband systems for local-area network connectivity in the Union, with a focus on industrial sectors.” BEREC has also examined “the evolution of private 5G networks across Europe and the interrelation with public networks”.
The Irish Times
- ComReg’s move to allow private 5G networks will transform Ireland’s economy
Recently, ComReg published decisions and draft regulations for a licensing framework that will support the next technological leap for Irish businesses.
European Commission (2)
- Netherlands: Shell secures spectrum permits for private 5G networks at the Port of Rotterdam
The permits take the Dutch market to a total of 63 local private 5G network licences in the band.
- Sweden regulator consults on local 5G permits in 3.8 GHz band
The Swedish Authority proposed making the 3,800-3,920 megahertz (MHz) and 3,990-4,130 MHz ranges available for local permits, for both indoor and outdoor use at a given property. Comments are invited until 8 September 2026.
What industry says and what happens next
Céim a bhfuil súil léi: D’fhéadfadh an méid seo athrú.
The Irish Times piece was written by Frank Rubotham, identified as head of specialists and propositions at Logicalis UK and Ireland. He wrote that “access to private 5G spectrum, delivered by industry, is a transformational development for the Republic’s economy, establishing the State as a competitive player on the global stage.”
Mr Rubotham argued that reliable connectivity is part of how global investors judge locations for advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and logistics. He said the development “will open up a new enterprise connectivity market in Ireland, representing one of the most significant advances in digital infrastructure in recent years.”
He also said Irish companies “will have the ability to build the wireless infrastructure their operations require by leveraging private 5G networks.” That, he argued, would make Ireland a more practical location for foreign direct investment in production lines or research facilities.
The next step identified in the piece is for ComReg to complete the licensing route. “ComReg must finalise a workable licensing route, with clear application requirements and timelines,” it said, urging businesses to identify where existing networks constrain production and test private 5G against clear targets.
The Irish Times
- ComReg’s move to allow private 5G networks will transform Ireland’s economy
Recently, ComReg published decisions and draft regulations for a licensing framework that will support the next technological leap for Irish businesses.
European Commission
- Draft Commission Implementing Decision on harmonisation of the 3800-4200 MHz band
This draft Commission Implementing Decision aims to designate and harmonise the technical conditions for the shared use of the 3 800 - 4 200 MHz frequency band by low and medium power terrestrial wireless broadband systems for local-area network connectivity in the Union, with a focus on industrial sectors.
Conas a rinneadh an scéal seo: dréachtaíonn DáilDex nuacht go huathoibríoch ó thaifid oifigiúla agus ó thuairisciú náisiúnta, agus seiceálann sé gach foinse agus sliocht roimh fhoilsiú. Léigh ár modheolaíocht
Foinsí
5 foinse
Oifigiúil / Príomhúil
- European Commission — Netherlands: Shell secures spectrum permits for private 5G networks at the Port of Rotterdam
“The permits take the Dutch market to a total of 63 local private 5G network licences in the band.”
- European Commission — Sweden regulator consults on local 5G permits in 3.8 GHz band
“The Swedish Authority proposed making the 3,800-3,920 megahertz (MHz) and 3,990-4,130 MHz ranges available for local permits, for both indoor and outdoor use at a given property. Comments are invited until 8 September 2026.”
- European Commission — Draft Commission Implementing Decision on harmonisation of the 3800-4200 MHz band
“This draft Commission Implementing Decision aims to designate and harmonise the technical conditions for the shared use of the 3 800 - 4 200 MHz frequency band by low and medium power terrestrial wireless broadband systems for local-area network connectivity in the Union, with a focus on industrial sectors.”
- BEREC — The BEREC Work Programme 2026 now open for stakeholder input
“presented BEREC's report on the evolution of private 5G networks across Europe and the interrelation with public networks .”
Tuairisciú
- The Irish Times — ComReg’s move to allow private 5G networks will transform Ireland’s economy
“Recently, ComReg published decisions and draft regulations for a licensing framework that will support the next technological leap for Irish businesses.”