This report analyzes the 2Q24 wireless infrastructure market worldwide and covers 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G radio access network (RAN) and core network nodes. It presents historical data from 2016 to 2023, quarterly market size and vendor market shares, and a detailed market forecast through 2029 for 2G/3G/4G/5G RAN, including Open vRAN, and core networks (EPC, vEPC, and 5GC), for each region (North America, Europe Middle East Africa, Asia Pacific, Caribbean Latin America). The historical data accounts for the sales of more than 30 wireless infrastructure vendors, including a few vendors that shared confidential sales data with TERAL RESEARCH. The market forecast is based on a model correlating wireless infrastructure vendor sales with 20 years of service provider network rollout pattern analysis, and upgrade and expansion plans.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT
KEY TAKEAWAYS: 2Q24 SIGNALED THE WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET IS BOTTOMING OUT, THE RETURN TO GROWTH IS IMMINENT
2Q24 SIGNALED THE WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET IS BOTTOMING OUT
- CHINA AND THE U.S. WERE THE ONLY COUNTRIES WITH NOTABLE ACTIVITY
- WHILE ALL CATEGORIES DECLINED YOY, 5G AND 4G GREW SEQUENTIALLY
- EVEN WITH A SLOWER PACE OF ROLLOUTS, 5G REMAINS THE BRIGHT SPOT
- A faster migration to 5G SA is greatly desired
- The potential for LTE-A and VoLTE upgrades remains phenomenal
- The need for IMS has never been greater, what's wrong with voice?
- The need for new EPC is vanishing but capacity expansion continues
- HUAWEI STAYS #1 AND INCREASED ITS SHARE AGAIN; BOTH NOKIA AND ZTE GAINED SHARE
- For RAN market share, Huawei, Nokia and ZTE increased their share
- IN CORE NETWORKS, HUAWEI AND ZTE COMBINED COMMAND A 65% MARKET SHARE, ERICSSON STAYED #2
- The prolonged slow migration to 5G SA continues to hinder 5G core sales
- There is a huge disconnect between what Ericsson reports and the reality
- In virtual EPC sales, Huawei kept its #1 position
- Gaining or keeping market share in the EPC/vEPC market is a tough balancing act
AS RIGHTLY PREDICTED, WE HAVE PASSED THE PEAK AND 2023 WAS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE DISINVESTMENT CYCLE, 2024 WILL BE THE THIRD YEAR
- LIKE 4G, 5G WILL HAVE A LONG TAIL..
- BUT UNLIKE PREVIOUS CYCLES, THERE IS NO NEW G TO CREATE A NEW INVESTMENT CYCLE; 5G REMAINS THE BRIGHT SPOT
- WE HAVE NOT CHANGED OUR FORECASTS SINCE OUR 4Q23/2023 UPDATE PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY 2024
- In our 4Q23 update, we revised both our short-term and long-term forecasts downward
- AS SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORT, THE MARKET HAS ENTERED CORRECTION TERRITORY
- AT&T's open RAN plan will bring North America back to growth this year
- Post-5G peak, all other regions will be either down or flat at best
OUR LONG-TERM WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE MARKET FORECAST POINTS TO DECLINING TREND
- FURTHER EXACERBATED BY THE VIBRANT SECONDHAND MARKET FOR 4G AND 5G EQUIPMENT COMING FROM THE REMOVAL OF THE CHINESE VENDORS IN SPECIFIC COUNTRIES THAT SWAMPS OTHER MARKETS
- With Germany gearing up to remove Huawei's 5G equipment, we expect another cycle of used kits to flood the secondhand market in 2025-2026
- AFTER THE PAUSE, OPEN RAN WILL START TO RAMP UP THIS YEAR
- Geopolitics fueled both the open RAN ecosystem and traditional 5G RAN rollouts led by Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung
- HOME TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST WIRELESS NETWORK FOOTPRINTS, ASIA PACIFIC WILL REMAIN THE LARGEST MARKET
- NORTH AMERICA WILL REMAIN THE WORLD'S SECOND LARGEST MARKET
- EMEA'S 5G WILL DECLINE THROUGH 2029
- CALA IS BOUNCING BACK WITH POTENTIAL GROWTH AHEAD