| The agricultural sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the integration of digital technologies, automation and data-driven decision-making. Emerging paradigms such as precision agriculture, agri-robotics and smart supply chains require advanced communication infrastructures capable of supporting massive connectivity, ultra-reliable low-latency communication and secure data exchange. Fifth-generation (5G) network technology is widely recognized as a key enabler for these requirements, offering enhanced performance compared to previous generations. This paper presents an analysis of the advantages of 5G network technology in the agricultural domain, focusing on its ability to support complex, data-intensive and dis-tributed agricultural applications. The study is grounded in the context of the COP-PILOT project and in particular Cluster 3A, which aims to demonstrate how digital, autonomous and interoperable solutions can improve productivity, sustainability and resilience across the agri-food value chain. A representative use case is examined, integrating precision crop monitoring, autonomous agri-robotics, secure data management and smart logistics. Based on this use case, the key system requirements are identified, including real-time data processing, reliable connectivity in rural environments, interoperability and data sovereignty. The paper then analyses how 5G architectural features, such as network slicing, edge computing and massive machine-type communications, can effectively address these requirements. The findings highlight the critical role of 5G as a foundational infrastructure for next-generation agricultural systems, enabling scalable, efficient and trustworthy digital farming ecosystems. |
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