Political and Economic Contexts of Implementing 5G in Poland and in Selected European Countries

The technology race to achieve the position of an economic leader is a phenomenon that has been taking place all over the world. The 5G technology has become a vital component of this race over the recent years. The technical capabilities it offers and the role it may play in the economy have become the subject of political debate and are at the very core of the “war for technology” between two superpowers: China and the United States. The European Union is aware of the fact that the position Europe enjoys on the international arena depends, to a large extent, on how quickly European countries will develop and implement 5G. Are individual European member states capable of seamlessly implementing the assumptions of strategies and plans concerned with the development of 5th generation technologies? Will the security of 5G networks be ensured in Europe? These are just some of the issues that are analyzed in this article with their economic and political context taken into consideration. A broader perspective is presented, with primary focus on the global geopolitical situation and on the conflict between China and the United States. The study was conducted by relying on an in-depth analysis of strategic state documents, reports drawn up by institutions tasked with implementing and monitoring the development of 5G technology, as well as literature on the subject and online resources