Global RAN Market Stabilizes While 5G-Advanced Gains Momentum Outside China
The telecommunications industry has witnessed significant shifts in recent years, and the latest reports from the Dell’Oro Group provide key insights into these trends. After two years of steep declines, the global Radio Access Network (RAN) market has shown signs of stabilization. According to initial findings, RAN revenue—including baseband, radio hardware, and software (excluding services)—was flat outside of China, and even increased when excluding North America. This marks a pivotal phase for 5G networks as they begin to transition from connectivity solutions to intelligent network infrastructures.
RAN Market Trends Point to Long-Term Optimism
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Stefan Pongratz, Vice President of RAN market research at Dell’Oro Group, highlighted that the near-term RAN market outlook remains muted but noted cautious optimism among leading suppliers. “While growth has plateaued in recent quarters, investments in RAN technologies are expected to accelerate over the long term,” Pongratz explained. The evolving demands of next-generation network applications, including enhanced 5G features, edge computing, and Massive MIMO technologies, underscore a need for ongoing innovation and development in the sector.
The Dell’Oro Group’s quarterly report also sheds light on market dynamics across various RAN segments, including 5G NR Sub-7 GHz, 5G NR mmWave, and Open RAN. The report tracks developments by region and offers an insightful four-quarter outlook, highlighting how global markets are preparing for the next wave of telecom innovations. Notably, while revenue growth decreased in North America and China, other regions displayed stable growth trends, signifying a diversification of global RAN investments.
Surge in Mobile Core Network Revenue Outside China
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In addition to RAN performance, the Dell’Oro Group report on the Mobile Core Network (MCN) market revealed an impressive 14% year-over-year growth outside China in Q3 2025. This growth is attributed to increased adoption of 5G Standalone (5G SA) networks, with 72 mobile network operators (MNOs) now advancing 5G deployment strategies. The Chinese market, however, experienced a steep decline of 39% year-over-year due to an exceptionally high baseline in 2024. Excluding China, worldwide revenues from the MCN segment reflected a positive trajectory.
MNOs across the globe have been making strides in leveraging 5G technologies for monetization opportunities. For instance, Reliance Jio in India introduced 10 network slices with guaranteed service level agreements (SLAs) on a large scale, while T-Mobile in the United States launched Edge Control to enable Mobile Private Networks (MPN) for enterprises. This indicates a broader industry shift toward tailored, high-performance network solutions that meet specific use case requirements.
5G-Advanced and Its Impact on Global Telecom
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The future of telecom appears to be firmly anchored in the potential of 5G-Advanced, the next phase in the evolution of 5G technologies as defined by 3GPP’s Release 18 and beyond. As of Q3 2025, 12 MNOs—including giants like T-Mobile, China Mobile, and Telstra—have commercially launched 5G-Advanced networks. These advancements promise enhanced features, improved bandwidth, and elevated user experiences, setting the stage for more intelligent and efficient networks worldwide.
Furthermore, 5G-Advanced networks are expected to play a major role in supporting high-demand industries such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems. Dell’Oro Group’s insights emphasize the importance of continued investments in these areas as markets gradually shift toward next-generation solutions. As the telecom industry stands on the brink of another transformation, stakeholders must strategize to capitalize on long-term growth opportunities driven by these promising developments.
For more details, Dell’Oro Group’s comprehensive market studies on RAN and MCN provide in-depth data on regional trends, segment performance, and forward-looking projections. Visit their official website for purchasing and further insights.
