5G Network Infrastructure, Global, 2025-2029

Technology Evolution and Expansion of Customer Base are Driving Growth Potential

The race to provide 5G in some areas of the world has driven growth rates for 5G network infrastructure to rise above historical averages. However, 2024 saw slowing growth as 5G coverage in these countries and regions became more ubiquitous. This does not mean investment in 5G networks is done; there is still much work to be done in all areas of 5G network infrastructure. There is also an expansion of the regions that are moving to 5G-essentially all areas of the world are now beginning to utilize 5G networks.

2025 will likely see at least slow growth overall in 5G network infrastructure. CSPs will continue to invest in their public network infrastructure, but likely at a lower level than a few years ago. Many will focus on the transport and core upgrades needed, as more CSPs slowly transition to 5G standalone.

There are a few bright spots that will help lift the overall growth rate of network infrastructure. Open and virtual RAN is still a small part of the overall RAN segment, but this market appears poised to grow strongly after a few years of hesitation. Another bright spot is the expansion of the customer base from CSPs and public networks to enterprises and private networks. Private networks comprise a smaller market, but will grow faster than the market as a whole. New technologies-including AI, NTN, and network APIs-may drive some growth in the network infrastructure market in the coming years.

Growth Opportunities

This report focuses on the 5G network infrastructure market that is measured in tens of billions of dollars of annual spend in the 5G network infrastructure market. The traditional customers for network infrastructure remain CSPs and public cellular networks; one way to examine the potential market for AI and NTN in 5G network market is to study various statistics about the current state of 4G and 5G networks globally.

According to a recent Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) report, the market for 5G network infrastructure is growing quickly:

• 835 CSPs have commercially launched 4G networks globally, contributing to the growth of the 5G network infrastructure market (offering broadband fixed wireless access and/or mobile services). As 5G builds upon 4G, this is essentially the maximum number of 5G networks (the market) in the near future for AI and NTN in 5G network market.
• At least 626 CSPs in 187 countries/territories are investing in 5G networks, which includes a significant share of the private 5G networks market. These include early-stage investments such as proofs of concept, trials, and pilots, as well as actual deployments. This is almost 75% of the current 4G market.
• At least 349 CSPs in 131 countries/territories have launched one or more 3GPP-compliant commercial retail 5G services, reinforcing their commitment to the 5G network infrastructure market. This represents almost 42% of the current 4G market.
• While most of the live 5G networks are 5G NSA networks that depend on 4G networks to operate, there are now 160 CSPs investing in 5G SA networks (up from 121 in the previous report).
• Globally, at least 72 5G SA networks have been deployed, exemplifying a portion of the expanding private 5G networks market.

Growth Opportunities in the 5G Network Market

First, CSPs are continually investing in their networks, especially in AI and NTN in the 5G network market. These networks have long lives; 2G networks, which are still being supported even in countries that have 5G networks, are part of the overall 5G network infrastructure market. As shown in Exhibit 6, approximately 42% of CSPs operating 4G networks are currently offering 5G services, highlighting the growth in the private 5G networks market. However, over the next decade:

• Investment in 2G and 3G networks will decline considerably.
• Investment in 4G networks will flatten and then begin to decline, affecting the overall 5G network infrastructure market.
• Investment in 5G NR networks will accelerate and become the dominant generation investment-wise, boosting the private 5G networks market significantly.

Growth Opportunities in the Private 5G Networks Market

Frost & Sullivan estimates that in 2024, more than $60 billion was invested in the cellular network infrastructure market, significantly impacting the private 5G networks market. However, private cellular networks now make up a small but growing slice of the market, contributing to the open and virtual RAN market. The vast majority of this investment was by global CSPs for public cellular infrastructure. However, private cellular networks now make up a small but growing slice of the market. (The customers for private cellular networks now include enterprises from various industry verticals.)

Competitive Intensity in the 5G Network Infrastructure Market

When viewed from the supplier side, the 5G NR network infrastructure market looks much different than previous generations of wireless network infrastructure. Network functions used to be monolithic and hardware focused. With the move toward cloud computing, network functions are now entirely software-based and running on off-the-shelf hardware. Given that these network functions are more granular and limited in scope (and the fact that they are now decoupled in software) opens the door to many competitors in the private 5G networks market. Leading suppliers in previous generations of the 5G network infrastructure market comprised a few large, global companies offering solutions to meet the gamut of network infrastructure needs, commonly referred to as network equipment providers, highlighting the hardware focus of the past. These suppliers still offer everything for 5G NR network infrastructure and remain market leaders in the open and virtual RAN market.

The opening of the 5G has made it possible for new competitors to enter the 5G core network market. Similarly, the opening of the RAN has increased competition and innovation in the private 5G networks market. Private cellular networks have also opened the door to new suppliers, particularly to support smaller enterprise customers.