Radio Access Network (RAN) Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Communication Infrastructure (Small Cell, Macro Cell, RAN Equipment, and Distributed Antenna System), By Technology (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G), By End User (Residential and Enterprise), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 14.31 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.77%
Fastest Growing Segment	RAN
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 25.03 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Radio Access Network (RAN) Market will grow from USD 14.31 Billion in 2025 to USD 25.03 Billion by 2031 at a 9.77% CAGR. The Radio Access Network (RAN) constitutes the critical telecommunications infrastructure that connects individual mobile devices to the core network through radio frequency signals. The market is primarily propelled by the exponential surge in global mobile data traffic, which necessitates substantial upgrades in network capacity and speed. Additionally, the rapid deployment of 5G technology acts as a fundamental driver, as telecommunication operators globally strive to support low-latency applications and the dense connectivity requirements of the Internet of Things and enterprise digital transformation.

This extensive infrastructure development is reflected in recent deployment figures. According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association, in 2024, 624 operators were investing in 5G networks, with 55% having successfully launched commercial services. Despite this robust activity, the market faces a significant impediment regarding the high capital expenditure required for network densification and spectrum acquisition. The immense financial burden associated with deploying new base stations while maintaining legacy systems can strain operator budgets and potentially impede the pace of market expansion.

Key Market Drivers

Rapid expansion of commercial 5G network infrastructure drives market growth, necessitating advanced base stations and massive MIMO antenna arrays. Operators are upgrading sites to support higher frequency bands and increase spectral efficiency. This rollout is directly driven by the intense migration of consumers to next-generation networks. According to Ericsson, June 2024, in the 'Ericsson Mobility Report', approximately 160 million 5G subscriptions were added globally during the first quarter of 2024. Such adoption forces providers to continually invest in RAN hardware to maintain service quality. Additionally, the overall load on these networks is intensifying, further necessitating capacity upgrades. According to Ericsson, in 2024, global mobile network data traffic grew 25 percent between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, compelling operators to densify their radio access infrastructure.

Simultaneously, the increasing adoption of Open RAN architectures is reshaping investment strategies by breaking reliance on proprietary hardware. This shift allows operators to mix components from different suppliers, fostering innovation and lowering costs through software-centric solutions. Major carriers are moving beyond trials into commercial deployments to achieve supply chain flexibility. According to AT&T, December 2023, in the 'AT&T to Accelerate Open RAN with Ericsson' press release, the company committed to a spending plan of approximately $14 billion over five years to deploy open radio access network technology. This trend signifies a structural transformation in the market, moving value from traditional hardware to cloud-native software platforms.

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Key Market Challenges

The primary impediment hampering the expansion of the Global Radio Access Network (RAN) market is the substantial capital expenditure required for network densification and spectrum acquisition. Telecommunication operators are currently burdened by the dual financial strain of maintaining legacy infrastructure while simultaneously funding the extensive rollout of next-generation 5G base stations. This financial pressure is intensified by the technical requirements of high-frequency bands, which necessitate a denser grid of small cells to achieve adequate coverage, thereby multiplying hardware and installation costs significantly. Consequently, the sheer scale of investment needed reduces the speed at which operators can expand service coverage and upgrade existing capacity, directly slowing overall market growth rates.

This economic bottleneck is evidenced by the massive outlays recorded in recent industry assessments. According to CTIA, in 2024, wireless providers invested $30 billion in network infrastructure to meet escalating connectivity demands. Such high continued spending requirements limit the available capital for further innovation and market broadening, forcing operators to adopt more conservative deployment schedules to preserve financial stability.

Key Market Trends

The integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for intelligent automation is emerging as a critical trend in the RAN sector, addressing the complexities of managing dense 5G networks. Operators are increasingly deploying AI-driven algorithms to optimize spectral efficiency, manage real-time interference, and automate routine network operations, thereby reducing manual intervention and operational costs. This technological convergence enables predictive maintenance and dynamic resource allocation, which are essential for maintaining service quality in highly congested environments. Highlighting this collaborative industry shift, according to NVIDIA, February 2024, in the 'AI-RAN Alliance Launches a New Era of AI in Cellular Technology' press release, the organization was established with 11 founding members to foster the integration of artificial intelligence into radio access network architecture.

Simultaneously, the emergence of energy-efficient Green RAN solutions is gaining prominence as telecommunication providers strive to minimize carbon footprints and control rising energy expenditures. As network densification increases total power consumption, the market is witnessing a surge in hardware innovations, such as liquid-cooled base stations and AI-enabled sleep modes that dynamically adjust power usage based on traffic load. These sustainable technologies are vital for operators attempting to align network expansion with strict environmental, social, and governance targets. Validating the focus on hardware efficiency, according to Huawei, February 2024, in the 'Huawei Launches Eco-series Antennas' press release, the company's newly introduced antennas utilize signal-direct-injection technology to reduce site energy consumption by approximately 20 percent.

Segmental Insights

The Radio Access Network segment currently represents the fastest growing category within the global telecommunications infrastructure sector. This accelerated expansion is primarily driven by the aggressive worldwide deployment of 5G networks, which necessitates substantial upgrades to network density and capacity. Furthermore, industry institutions such as the O-RAN Alliance are fostering an environment of standardization and interoperability, encouraging operators to transition toward virtualized and open architectures to reduce costs. These technological advancements enable providers to manage escalating data traffic efficiently, thereby sustaining the rapid development of the radio access landscape.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific maintains a leading position in the Global Radio Access Network (RAN) market, primarily driven by the aggressive deployment of 5G infrastructure across China, South Korea, and Japan. This regional dominance is supported by substantial capital expenditure on network modernization and a massive mobile subscriber base requiring consistent connectivity. Additionally, strategic initiatives from regulatory authorities, such as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China, actively encourage telecommunications development and infrastructure upgrades. These factors collectively foster a favorable environment for RAN vendors, ensuring the region remains the central hub for global market expansion.

Recent Developments

• In November 2025, Ericsson and Orange France initiated a strategic collaboration to conduct experimental trials of Cloud RAN and Open RAN technologies within a live network environment. The project focused on deploying the vendor's antenna-integrated radios and utilizing artificial intelligence to optimize energy consumption and traffic management. These trials were designed to assess the maturity and performance of software-centric RAN architectures, paving the way for future large-scale deployments. The initiative underscored the industry's shift towards more flexible, automated, and sustainable network infrastructures, positioning both companies at the forefront of the next generation of mobile connectivity.
• In April 2025, Nokia announced a comprehensive multi-year extension of its RAN contract with T-Mobile US to modernize and expand the operator's 5G network. The deal included the supply of the vendor's latest AirScale radio portfolio, featuring energy-efficient massive MIMO radios and high-performance baseband units powered by proprietary system-on-chip technology. The partnership also focused on integrating artificial intelligence into the radio access network to enable self-organizing capabilities and improve operational efficiency. This agreement highlighted the ongoing demand for advanced RAN solutions to support maximizing network capacity and reliability across the United States.
• In October 2024, Wind River established a partnership with Rakuten Symphony to integrate its software solutions into the latter's Open RAN ecosystem. This collaboration focused on validating the software vendor's cloud platform and enterprise Linux systems with Rakuten Symphony's virtualized distributed and centralized units for 4G and 5G networks. The companies successfully completed an end-to-end proof of concept, demonstrating true interoperability and the ability to run complex network workloads on a cloud-native architecture. This partnership aimed to offer communications service providers increased choice and flexibility, facilitating the broader adoption of disaggregated and intelligent RAN infrastructures worldwide.
• In February 2024, Samsung Electronics and TELUS announced a strategic collaboration to construct Canada's first commercial virtualized and Open Radio Access Network (RAN). This significant project involved expanding their partnership from greenfield to complex brownfield deployments, utilizing Samsung's advanced vRAN 3.0 software and Open RAN-compliant Massive MIMO radios. The initiative aimed to deliver enhanced network performance, energy efficiency, and automation by replacing dedicated hardware with flexible software solutions. This deployment allowed the telecommunications provider to integrate components from multiple vendors, thereby accelerating the availability of advanced mobile services and fostering greater innovation within the global RAN market.

Key Market Players

• Huawei
• Ericsson
• Nokia
• Samsung Electronics
• ZTE Corporation
• NEC Corporation
• Fujitsu Limited
• Mavenir Inc.
• Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Intel Corporation

By Communication Infrastructure	By Technology	By End User	By Region
Small Cell Macro Cell RAN Equipment Distributed Antenna System	2G 3G 4G 5G	Residential and Enterprise	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Radio Access Network (RAN) Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Radio Access Network (RAN) Market, By Communication Infrastructure:

• Small Cell
• Macro Cell
• RAN Equipment
• Distributed Antenna System

• Radio Access Network (RAN) Market, By Technology:

• 2G
• 3G
• 4G
• 5G

• Radio Access Network (RAN) Market, By End User:

• Residential and Enterprise

• Radio Access Network (RAN) Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE