Private Wireless RAN Growth Slows to 16 Percent in 2025

Why It Matters

The deceleration signals a transition from early‑stage hype to sustainable enterprise adoption, reshaping vendor strategies and capital allocation in the telecom equipment sector.

Key Takeaways

• Private Wireless RAN grew 16% in 2025, slowing from 2024
• China contributed 40‑50% of global Private Wireless RAN revenue
• Huawei, Nokia, Ericsson were the top three suppliers in 2025
• Outside China, Nokia and Ericsson held ~80% market share
• Forecast expects 10‑20% CAGR, 5‑10% of total RAN by 2030

Pulse Analysis

Private wireless radio access networks have moved from a niche experiment to a measurable revenue stream, but the pace is now moderating. Dell’Oro’s latest forecast shows a 16% increase in 2025, down from the double‑digit surge seen in 2024. This slowdown reflects the market’s shift from rapid early‑adoption—driven by pilot projects and government incentives—to a more disciplined rollout as enterprises evaluate total cost of ownership and integration challenges. Analysts view the 3‑5% share of total RAN revenue as a baseline from which broader enterprise 5G deployments will grow.

Geographically, China dominates the private wireless landscape, delivering 40‑50% of worldwide revenue. The country’s aggressive industrial policy and dense manufacturing clusters have accelerated deployments in factories, ports and logistics hubs. Outside of China, the competitive field narrows to Nokia and Ericsson, which together command roughly 80% of the non‑Chinese market. Huawei remains a key player globally, but geopolitical constraints limit its expansion in certain regions. This concentration gives the two European vendors leverage over pricing, service contracts, and future standards development.

Looking ahead, Dell’Oro projects a 10‑20% compound annual growth rate through 2030, with private wireless representing 5‑10% of total RAN revenue. The outlook suggests that while campus networks may see slower growth, wide‑area private 5G solutions are gaining traction, especially in logistics, energy and mining sectors. Enterprises are expected to invest more heavily in private cellular as they seek reliable, low‑latency connectivity for automation and IoT applications, prompting vendors to broaden portfolio offerings and deepen ecosystem partnerships. This measured expansion underscores the sector’s maturation and its emerging role as a strategic asset for digital transformation.