5G Core Global Market Report 2026

The 5G core is the central component of a 5G network that is responsible for managing data and control plane activities. It enables secure and reliable network connectivity for end-users and provides them with access to network services.

The main components of the 5G core consist of solutions and services. In the context of network operations, services refer to applications or functions that facilitate the establishment of connections among users, applications, and data within a network. The various solutions included are professional services and managed services deployed across cloud and on-premise environments. The various network functions include AMF, SMF, UPF, PCF, NEF, UDM, AUSF, AF, and NSSF, which are utilized by telecom operators and enterprises.

Tariffs have affected the 5G core market by raising the costs of imported telecom hardware, servers, and networking equipment. These impacts are most pronounced in large-scale deployments by telecom operators across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. Increased capital expenditure has delayed some network expansion projects. However, tariffs are encouraging the adoption of software-driven and cloud-native core solutions. This shift is strengthening domestic telecom ecosystems and accelerating virtualization across 5G core deployments.

The 5G core market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides 5G core market statistics, including 5G core industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a 5G core market share, detailed 5G core market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the 5G core industry. This 5G core market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The 5g core market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $10.52 billion in 2025 to $13.07 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing mobile data traffic, expansion of LTE infrastructure, rising smartphone penetration, growing demand for low-latency connectivity, and telecom network modernization initiatives.

The 5g core market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $28.9 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the global rollout of 5G networks, increasing adoption of private 5G, expanding IoT connectivity, rising demand for ultra-reliable low-latency services, and the expansion of cloud-based telecom platforms. Major trends in the forecast period include cloud-native core network deployment, implementation of network slicing, expansion of virtualized network functions, integration of edge technologies with core architectures, and adoption of service-based network architectures.

The explosion of data traffic is expected to drive the growth of the 5G core market moving forward. Data traffic refers to network traffic, which represents the volume of data transmitted through a network at a specific point in time. Utilizing 5G Core for data traffic management provides various advantages, including enhanced network capabilities, service exposure, and traffic steering features. These benefits provide additional tools for optimizing traffic management and enabling efficient data traffic handling. For instance, according to a report published by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, a Sweden-based provider of IT services, global mobile data traffic reached approximately 90 EB per month in 2022 and is projected to increase nearly fourfold, reaching 325 EB per month by 2028. Therefore, the explosion of data traffic is driving increased utilization of the 5G core.

Major companies operating in the 5G core market are increasingly focusing on developing advanced solutions such as core network-as-a-service (CNaaS) to improve deployment flexibility and cost efficiency. Core network-as-a-service is a cloud-based model in which the operator provides the complete 5G core infrastructure in a managed, scalable, and on-demand manner, rather than requiring the operator to build and host the infrastructure itself, thereby reducing upfront investment and accelerating deployment. For instance, in March 2025, Orange S.A, a France-based telecommunication company, launched its 5G CNaaS solution featuring a fully managed, cloud-based 5G core infrastructure that enables mobile operators of any size to deploy 5G standalone (SA) networks more quickly and at lower cost. Key features of the launched product include simplified deployment, eliminating the need for mobile operators to build or maintain their own core network infrastructure; a pay-as-you-grow model, enabling operators to scale services based on demand without minimum size requirements; comprehensive management, with Orange managing updates and security compliance so that mobile operators can concentrate on expanding their radio coverage; and the inclusion of essential services such as IPX connectivity for data integrity and roaming, real-time signalling for SS7/LTE/5G SA traffic visibility, coverage and roaming services for global connectivity, and value-added big data analytics for network optimisation.

In February 2023, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a US-based global provider of IT services, acquired Athonet srl. The acquisition of Athonet's technology will allow HPE to deliver private networking capabilities directly to enterprises through its Aruba networking portfolio, while also enabling communications service providers (CSPs) to rapidly deploy private 5G networks for their customers. Athonet srl is an Italy-based telecommunications service provider.

Major companies operating in the 5g core market are Nokia Corporation, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., ZTE Corporation, NEC Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., Oracle Corporation, Mavenir Systems Inc., Druid Software Ltd., Athonet, IPLOOK Technologies, Casa Systems Inc., NetNumber Inc., Cumucore, VMware Inc., Fujitsu Limited, Ribbon Communications Inc., Parallel Wireless Pvt. Ltd., Datang Telecom Group

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the 5G core market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the global 5G core market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the 5g core market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the 5g core market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The 5G core market includes revenues earned by entities through services such as service-based architecture and cloud-based architecture. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

5G Core Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses 5g core market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for 5g core ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The 5g core market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. This section also examines key products and services offered in the market, evaluates brand-level differentiation, compares product features, and highlights major innovation and product development trends.
• The supply chain analysis section provides an overview of the entire value chain, including key raw materials, resources, and supplier analysis. It also provides a list competitor at each level of the supply chain.
• The updated trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it evolves and highlights emerging technology trends such as digital transformation, automation, sustainability initiatives, and AI-driven innovation. It suggests how companies can leverage these advancements to strengthen their market position and achieve competitive differentiation.
• The regulatory and investment landscape section provides an overview of the key regulatory frameworks, regularity bodies, associations, and government policies influencing the market. It also examines major investment flows, incentives, and funding trends shaping industry growth and innovation.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.
• The total addressable market (TAM) analysis section defines and estimates the market potential compares it with the current market size, and provides strategic insights and growth opportunities based on this evaluation.
• The market attractiveness scoring section evaluates the market based on a quantitative scoring framework that considers growth potential, competitive dynamics, strategic fit, and risk profile. It also provides interpretive insights and strategic implications for decision-makers.
• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• Expanded geographical coverage includes Taiwan and Southeast Asia, reflecting recent supply chain realignments and manufacturing shifts in the region. This section analyzes how these markets are becoming increasingly important hubs in the global value chain.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The company scoring matrix section evaluates and ranks leading companies based on a multi-parameter framework that includes market share or revenues, product innovation, and brand recognition.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Component: Solutions; Services
• 2) By Deployment: Cloud; On-Premises
• 3) By Network Function: Access and Mobility Management (AMF); Session Management Function (SMF); User Plane Function (UPF); Policy Control Function (PCF); Network Exposure Function (NEF); Network Repository Function (NRF); Unified Data Management (UDM); Authentication Server Function (AUSF); Application Function (AF); Network Slicing Selection Function (NSSF)
• 4) By End-User: Telecom Operators; Enterprises
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Solutions: Cloud-Native Functions; Software-Defined Networking (SDN); Network Functions Virtualization (NFV); Network Slicing
• 2) By Services: Professional Services; Managed Services
• Companies Mentioned: Nokia Corporation; Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson; Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.; Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.; ZTE Corporation; NEC Corporation; Cisco Systems Inc.; Oracle Corporation; Mavenir Systems Inc.; Druid Software Ltd.; Athonet; IPLOOK Technologies; Casa Systems Inc.; NetNumber Inc.; Cumucore; VMware Inc.; Fujitsu Limited; Ribbon Communications Inc.; Parallel Wireless Pvt. Ltd.; Datang Telecom Group
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; South East Asia; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
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