Author | Elvira Esparza
Belgium has launched the world’s first commercial mobile service based on 5G Core Software as a Service SaaS, powered by Nokia and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The SaaS model transforms the core network into a subscription based service, allowing networks to be built and scaled without the complexity of traditional systems while reducing upfront capital investment.
This system marks a new era in how telecom providers can choose to build and scale their networks.
The operator Citymesh, which provides broadband and mobile services to small businesses and self-employed professionals, is the company behind the launch of this commercial 5G Core SaaS mobile service in Belgium.
Greater flexibility and lower cost
5G Core SaaS offers greater flexibility because it operates on a subscription based cloud model, meaning operators do not need to maintain a physical core network hardware on site. It also makes it easier to design tailored service plans without the need to build a full telecom network or conduct ongoing integration work. As a result, operators can avoid upfront hardware costs and scale capacity according to demand.
This system represents a shift in approach, allowing operators to subscribe only to the services they need and adjust spending based on actual demand.
The service is aimed at industries such as aviation, healthcare, events, emergency services, drones, and transport, as well as self-employed professionals and small and medium sized businesses.
What are the advantages of the 5G Core SaaS system?
This system allows companies to scale more quickly, reduce complexity and upfront investment, and deliver more secure, customer tailored connectivity. It enables the creation of catalog based services, on demand network capabilities, and rapid deployment of functions, while offering predictable cost control through subscription pricing and pay as you grow infrastructure.
With this model, telecom providers can focus on delivering services and improving customer experience without having to manage physical network infrastructure. It also offers an added advantage: operators can scale rapidly based on demand, which is particularly valuable in scenarios such as live events or remote industrial operations.
The service runs on Amazon’s global cloud, enabling it to handle unpredictable demand spikes in real time such as during events, at airports, or in emergency situations without the need to provision idle hardware in advance that would generate costs during those periods. Operators access a global cloud platform that supports high performance mobile services with predictable cost structures and reliable security.
Amazon provides a multi-regional infrastructure with telecom grade availability, flexible scalability for traffic peaks, and security controls that meet telecommunications regulatory compliance requirements.
What services are included in 5G Core SaaS?
The service catalog available to operators under 5G Core SaaS, managed by Nokia, includes:
- 5G and 4G network infrastructure, supporting both current and next generation device ecosystems.
- Network slicing, which allows the physical network to be divided into multiple virtual networks, enabling tailored use in each case.
- Core infrastructure for voice, video, and messaging through IMS, enabling full service delivery.
- IoT connectivity services for device management and large scale machine to machine M2M enablement.
- Automation and security capabilities.
Operators can scale capacity based on demand and expose network capabilities through standardized APIs without the need for custom integration engineering. Nokia manages the entire infrastructure, including updates and operations.
In which sectors has 5G Core SaaS been launched?
The system has been implemented across seven business verticals, with each benefiting from network slicing:
- Venues and events, with temporary networks that do not require fixed infrastructure.
- Airports, with traffic control systems at security-grade levels.
- Hospitals, with network slicing to prioritize device traffic for mission critical healthcare connectivity.
- The energy and maritime sectors, enabling remote industrial connectivity for offshore operations.
- Emergency services, focused on first responders.
- Drone operators, supporting commercial fleets of autonomous drones.
- Connected vehicles, for transport, logistics, and large scale fleet management.
Which company has launched this service?
Citymesh is the fourth telecom operator in Belgium and has been developing connectivity solutions for businesses since 2006. It was founded to deploy large scale Wi-Fi networks for smart cities in Belgium, becoming a leading provider of public networks. In collaboration with Nokia, it developed private and 5G networks in Belgium and later evolved into a full service technology company following its partnership with the operator Digi.
With experience in Wi-Fi, IoT, 4G, and 5G, Citymesh aims to build high performance, intelligent networks for organizations of all sizes across sectors such as smart cities, industry, logistics, education, and healthcare.
The rollout of 5G Core SaaS began in February as the world’s first commercial mobile service operating on a fully SaaS based core network.
Looking ahead, the global 5G core market is expected to grow from $4.57 billion (€3.94 billion) in 2025 to $39.12 billion (€33.71 billion) in 2032,according to Coherent Market Insights (2025). This reflects the growing adoption by operators of software based and cloud native core network architectures across global markets.
Photos | GoodLifeStudio/iStock, xijian/iStock
