Worldwide RAN Market Remained Stable in 1Q 2026 – Dell'Oro

Why It Matters

The steady yet tepid RAN market signals limited upside for telecom operators and vendors, shaping investment cycles and supply‑chain decisions across the industry.

Key Takeaways

• RAN revenue grew low single digits YoY in Q1 2026.
• EMEA and APAC growth offset weaker North America activity.
• Top five RAN suppliers unchanged: Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE, Samsung.
• APAC excluding China improves; China and North America remain pressured.
• Market range stayed within –4% to +4% YoY for five quarters.

Pulse Analysis

The Radio Access Network sector, a backbone of 5G rollout, has entered a phase of modest stability. Dell'Oro’s latest figures reveal that worldwide RAN revenue, excluding services, nudged up by only a few percent in the first quarter of 2026. This low‑single‑digit growth mirrors the broader telecom environment, where operators balance capital expenditures against uncertain demand for new spectrum and edge services. The narrow –4% to +4% YoY swing over five quarters underscores a market that is neither collapsing nor accelerating, offering a predictable backdrop for equipment makers and investors.

Regional dynamics drive the current equilibrium. EMEA and APAC regions posted solid gains, buoyed by government‑backed 5G upgrades and renewed infrastructure projects. In contrast, North America’s carriers remain cautious, trimming spend amid macro‑economic headwinds and competitive pressures from over‑the‑top players. China’s market, traditionally a growth engine for domestic vendors, shows signs of strain, further widening the gap between APAC’s emerging economies and the continent’s largest telecom spender. These imbalances influence vendor strategies, prompting firms like Huawei and Ericsson to diversify sales pipelines beyond their home markets.

Looking ahead, the unchanged hierarchy of the top five RAN suppliers—Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE, and Samsung—suggests entrenched competitive positions, yet the modest growth leaves room for disruption. Operators may explore alternative architectures, such as Open RAN, to drive cost efficiencies, while vendors could leverage software‑centric solutions to capture incremental revenue. Analysts will watch for any shift in the narrow revenue band; a breakout either upward or downward could reshape capital allocation, partnership models, and the pace of 5G evolution across the globe.