The event is one of the key deliverables of the MN5G project, led by Italy, Spain and Türkiye, with the support of NCIA. It served as a catalyst for building a broader community of interest around the military applications of 5G and will contribute to the development of a long-term Programme of Work for MN5G aligned with national and NATO-wide efforts.
The first day opened with keynote speeches by LGEN José María Millán Martínez, CESTIC Director General, Spanish Ministry of Defence, and NCIA Chief Technology Office Antonio Calderon.
“We have a vision for the future, a future where Industry is not just a partner, but also a key player in NATO’s readiness, up to and including crisis and conflict. In a global environment that is more complex and more dangerous, there is no turning back from a deeper, more meaningful partnership,” said Calderon. “Working closely with nations and industry partners is crucial to this endeavour, so can ensure that NATO remains agile and responsive to emerging challenges.”
The day continued with a series of presentations from MN5G Nations displaying their respective national programmes and early implementation strategies.
On day two, national experts from Poland, Sweden, and Portugal, shared their experiences, strategic roadmaps and results from 5G integration in defence contexts. This was followed by a keynote speech on the NATO Digital Foundry, a NCIA-led initiative designed to accelerate digital transformation across the Alliance. The day included breakout sessions, where government, industry and military experts shared insights on standardization efforts, military use cases and capability development.
The conference concluded with reflections from current MN5G Nations, NCIA and the audiences, as well as guidance for interested nations on how to join the MN5G consortium.
“MN5G is about bringing individual national 5G initiatives into a cohesive, interoperable whole. By aligning efforts across Nations, we are not only advancing 5G, but also creating a common foundation that enables integration with cloud, AI, quantum and other emerging technologies. This collaboration is essential to build resilient, multi-domain capabilities that strengthen NATO’s technological edge and allow us to be stronger together,” said Luz Fernandez, NCIA Chief Digital Innovation and Technology.
Through the MN5G project, participating Nations are working together to scale up research, development, and experimentation in military 5G by leveraging synergies at both national and NATO levels. This coordinated approach enables greater efficiency, shared resources and enhanced situational awareness. In parallel, the project fosters a dedicated military 5G community that promotes information sharing and alignment of common requirements. The inaugural Military 5G Conference stands as a testament to this effort, bringing together stakeholders to deepen collaboration and drive progress to the benefit of participating Nations and NATO as a whole.