The global 5G network infrastructure market is substantial, generating tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue. Historically, this market served a single primary customer type: communications service providers (CSPs). While CSPs continue to account for the largest share of spending, enterprises across a wide range of verticals are now exploring private 5G networks, creating a new—though still smaller—source of demand for network infrastructure.

Whether the customer is a CSP deploying a public 5G network or an enterprise building a private 5G network, all three components of a 5G network—radio access network (RAN), transport, and core/edge—are essential. Overall, 5G network infrastructure is expected to see modest growth in 2026. CSPs will continue to invest in public network infrastructure, although likely at lower levels than in prior years. Much of this investment will focus on transport and core upgrades as more CSPs transition to 5G standalone architectures.

Several bright spots are expected to support overall market growth. Open and virtual RAN remains a relatively small portion of the total RAN market, but after several years of hesitation, it appears positioned for stronger growth in the coming years. Another positive trend is the expansion of the customer base beyond CSPs and public networks to include enterprises and private networks. Although private networks represent a smaller market in absolute terms, they are expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall 5G infrastructure market.

This Frost & Sullivan study analyzes the global 5G infrastructure market, providing an overview of key industry trends and estimates of the market opportunity based on CSP spending across 5G infrastructure components.

Authored: Troy Morley