BICS, the international communications enabler, part of Proximus Global, has announced significant milestones in its continued push to enable 5G standalone (SA) international roaming. Following successful trials, BICS has brought 5G SA roaming to two new operators. Drei and Elisa join BICS’ growing community of 5G SA roaming-ready operators, becoming the first in their respective countries to do so. BICS standalone 5G roaming

5G SA is the fully fledged version of 5G, unlike the non-standalone variant that relies on a 4G network core and gained widespread adoption in 2019. Offering lower latency and improved efficiency, 5G SA represents a significant leap forward in network technology. However, according to the GSMA, Europe is falling behind in 5G SA deployment compared to markets like China, India and the U.S. but leads in the number of operators planning future 5G SA launches, signaling strong potential for growth in the coming years.

The missing pieces of the puzzle have been a compelling business case and readiness for international roaming, but this is changing. Enterprises have long been touted as the real target customers for 5G, and according to Kaleido Intelligence, 5G IoT Roaming Traffic is anticipated to grow by 500% in the next two years.

Drei and Elisa are leading the way as 5G SA leaders in their respective markets. This achievement has been made possible through direct investments in their core networks and the adoption of BICS’s ‘Service Hub’ solution. The ‘Service Hub’ acts as a connectivity hub, utilizing advanced Transport Layer Security (TLS) and a comprehensive 5G management portal. The solution will simplify the management of roaming connections while delivering added benefits such as steering of roaming and detailed analytics. Through this service, BICS is fostering a growing community of 5G SA-ready mobile network operators (MNOs), with eight operators already live and connected today.

“5G’s potential hinges on operators and industry leaders driving innovation and pushing boundaries,” says Jorn Vercamert, the newly appointed Chief Product Officer at Proximus Global, taking the role effective May 1, 2025.

“Advancements in global IoT are fueling demand and bringing us closer to a pivotal tipping point. Operators investing in the right infrastructure now will lead and thrive when 5G reaches widespread adoption. BICS leadership in providing this global connectivity is vital in Proximus Global’s mission to connect, protect and engage everyone, everything, everywhere.”

Unlocking these two markets marks the latest in a series of 5G SA milestones for BICS. The company established the first-ever connection of its kind in a lab environment in 2021, followed by the first global 5G SA live roaming connection between the Middle East and Europe last year, and later achieved the first connection in Asia with AIS in Thailand. Being ahead of the game has allowed BICS to establish a full production environment for its 5G Service Hub, equipping it to support operators and ensure the industry is prepared for the 5G Standalone tipping point.

“Partnering with BICS on 5G Standalone roaming is a significant step forward in delivering next-generation connectivity to our customers. This collaboration allows us to unlock new possibilities in cross-border communication.”

– Bernhard Sommer, Head of Wholesale Strategy & Services, Drei

“Elisa is a pioneer in digital services and collaborating with BICS on 5G SA enables us to bring highly advanced international roaming capabilities and seamless experiences to our customers. We’re excited to lead the way in delivering innovative 5G services internationally. In next few years our main focus will be to increase 5G SA, VoLTE and VoNR roaming service coverage in collaboration with our partners around the world.”

– Mika Pyyppönen, Head of Telco Services, Elisa.