The COVID-19 pandemic will delay the rollout of 5G networks in Europe by 12 to 18 months, according to a recent report by PwC.

According to the report, European telcos’ investment spending over the next two years will fall by €6bn-€9bn ($7.1bn-$10.6bn).
“Telcos need to act urgently to address the squeeze on their 5G investment plans. Specifically, they must review their 5G business cases and deployment timetables, given the significant growth and changing pattern of demand for network capacity that has emerged due to the COVID-19 lockdown,” PwC said.

(RCR Wireless, July 31)
Aman Madhok's key takeaways:

Delays bring serious risks and knock-on effects from reduced delivery of innovative services to cashflows – all of which compromise long-term 5G business cases for operators; these will likely need to be revised.
On the vendor side, expect major rethinks from these operators in terms of capex allocation. Further, many emerging technologies could also take a hit, for example, V2X, IoT and the like.

COVID-19 Pandemic to Delay 5G Rollouts in Europe by 12-18 Months: PwC

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