From private 5G at Brussels Airport to drone support for emergency services: Citymesh has evolved into one of Belgium’s most versatile connectivity players. With a strong focus on innovation, societal impact, and B2B solutions, Citymesh combines telecom, critical communication, and drone technology into a single integrated vision. As Hilbren van Nieuwenborgh, Marketing & Communication Director at Citymesh, puts it: “We deliver connectivity that creates real operational value and helps organisations work smarter, safer and more efficiently.” CTO Robin Leblon highlights how fundamentally the role of data and connectivity will change in the years ahead: “Mobile data will increasingly shift from humans towards machines and objects.”

What does Citymesh stand for today?

Hilbren van Nieuwenborgh: “Citymesh is sometimes hard to summarise in one line, because we do a lot. But at our core, we are connectivity specialists. We don’t just deliver connectivity for the sake of it, we focus on the right kind of connectivity that creates real operational value for our customers. And we are 100% B2B. Everything we do is aimed at professional use cases. We build all kinds of networks: fixed networks, 4G and 5G, private networks for industrial sites, events, offshore locations, airports, … and increasingly, for critical environments.”

Citymesh is also known for its drones. How does that fit into your business proposition?

Robin Leblon: “That’s correct, and at the moment, our Safety Drones are one of our most visible and socially impactful projects. We are building a nationwide drone network in Belgium, with around seventy Safety Drones stationed near fire brigades and emergency services. When there’s an incident, our drone is airborne in 90 seconds and provides an exact picture of the scene while emergency services arrive. The drone streams live images directly to the dispatch
centre and the teams on the ground, helping them assess the situation, decide which resources they need, and take faster, better-informed decisions.”

“We’re currently one of the only companies in the world authorised to fly our drones beyond visual line of sight over sparsely-populated areas. That means we don’t need a pilot on site: they are operated remotely from our three Remote Operation Centers in Oostkamp, Marche-en-Famenne and DronePort in Sint-Truiden.” “And it goes further than response: with detection and identification technologies, we can also support authorities in identifying unauthorised drones, locating pilots of rogue drones, and supporting security use cases.”

“Mobile data is increasingly shifting from humans towards machines and objects.”

What are the main pillars of Citymesh as a group today?

Hilbren van Nieuwenborgh: “There are three main entities within the group. First, you have Citymesh itself, focused on connectivity: private 4G and 5G networks, critical communications, connectivity for events, and offshore and airport applications. For example, we operate a full private 5G network at Brussels Airport, enabling critical communication with voice and video for security and operational teams.”
“Second, we have our drone activities, a subsidiary fully owned by Citymesh, which focuses on first responders, security and maritime use cases. And third, we are a shareholder in DIGI Belgium, a joint venture with the European telecommunications group DIGI. Through this, we are becoming a full national mobile operator. DIGI focuses mainly on B2C, while Citymesh focuses on B2B telecom solutions on the same network infrastructure.”

How does the telecom and connectivity market evolve from your perspective?

Robin Leblon: “We see a very clear shift. Until now, mobile data has mainly been generated by people. But between now and 2040, that will increasingly shift towards machines and objects. Think about robots, cameras, water meters, drones, sensors and connected vehicles. In human telecom, the market is close to saturation: almost everyone already has a smartphone and a SIM card. The real growth will come from connected devices: the Internet of Things (IoT). That’s where 4G and 5G will explode in terms of use and revenue. We’re already active in that area, for example with connected water meters, logistics pallets equipped with tracking devices, or sensors in flood-prone areas. These sensors can send data in real time, and even trigger automatic drone flights to assess a situation on the ground.”

“Everything we do, needs a robust infrastructure. LCL provides that backbone”

Do sustainability and social responsibility play a role in this strategy?

Robin Leblon: “For us, sustainability is both reducing our own footprint and helping our customers become more sustainable. Our private networks allow organisations to work more efficiently and reduce energy use. Our mobile 5G vehicle, for example, can deploy a fully functional network in minutes in disaster zones, during floods or major incidents, so emergency services can keep operating. Our drones help emergency services avoid unnecessary deployments, make faster assessments, and reduce risks. That’s a direct contribution to society.”

“We also follow the United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and integrate sustainability in our partner selection. When we work with partners, we check whether they share our values in terms of sustainability and social relevance.”

How does LCL fit into Citymesh’s ecosystem and ambitions?

Robin Leblon: “We generate and transport huge amounts of data through our networks, drones and connected solutions. Reliable and secure data center environments are essential for that. So LCL is a very logical partner in our ecosystem. Connectivity and data are inseparable for us. Everything we do, from private networks to drones and IoT, needs a robust infrastructure behind it. Partners like LCL provide that backbone.”