5G Services Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global 5G Services Market is anticipated to rise from USD 68.11 Billion in 2025 to USD 580.66 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 42.93%. These services provide advanced telecommunications connectivity by utilizing fifth-generation cellular technology to ensure high-speed data transfer, ultra-low latency, and massive network capacity. The market is primarily propelled by the escalating global demand for enhanced mobile broadband and the critical necessity for reliable connectivity within Internet of Things ecosystems and industrial automation. According to 5G Americas, global 5G connections reached 2.4 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Despite this robust adoption trajectory, market expansion is significantly impeded by the substantial capital expenditure required for spectrum acquisition and network densification. Telecommunication operators face immense financial pressure to modernize infrastructure and secure frequency bands while navigating complex regulatory environments. This financial burden creates a barrier to entry and delays the universal deployment of services in cost-sensitive regions, potentially slowing the overall pace of global network maturity.

Market Drivers

A primary catalyst for the Global 5G Services Market is the exponential growth in mobile data traffic and high-bandwidth consumption. The surge in data-intensive applications, such as immersive augmented reality and ultra-high-definition streaming, places significant pressure on legacy network capacities, necessitating the enhanced throughput and spectral efficiency of 5G infrastructure. Service providers are prioritizing network upgrades to manage this volume while maintaining service quality. According to the 'Ericsson Mobility Report' from June 2024, global mobile network data traffic grew by 25 percent between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024.

A second pivotal driver is the acceleration of Industry 4.0 automation and enterprise digital transformation, which shifts market focus from consumer subscribers to industrial utility. Organizations are leveraging standalone 5G private networks to support mission-critical operations, including real-time remote monitoring and autonomous logistics, which demand ultra-reliable low latency. Nokia’s 'Industrial Digitalization Report' from June 2024 indicates that 78 percent of surveyed enterprises reported a positive return on investment within six months of deploying private wireless networks. Additionally, the GSMA reported in 2024 that mobile technologies and services contributed 5.4 percent to global GDP in 2023.

Market Challenges

The expansion of the Global 5G Services Market is directly hampered by the substantial capital expenditure required for network densification and spectrum acquisition. Telecommunication operators are compelled to invest heavily in upgrading infrastructure to support higher frequency bands and massive network capacity, creating a severe financial strain that slows deployment velocity. This cost burden acts as a significant barrier to entry, forcing providers to prioritize deployment in densely populated, high-revenue urban centers while delaying rollout in rural or cost-sensitive regions, thereby limiting the total addressable market.

The magnitude of this financial commitment underscores the difficulty operators face in balancing aggressive network expansion with sustainable financial performance. According to the GSMA, mobile operator capital expenditure is projected to reach $1.5 trillion between 2023 and 2030. This enormous funding requirement restricts the pace at which 5G services can achieve universal maturity and creates a persistent bottleneck for market growth.

Market Trends

The rapid expansion of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as a fiber alternative is reshaping connectivity by utilizing 5G capacity to deliver high-speed broadband without physical cables. This trend enables providers to monetize excess network capacity and rapidly capture market share in areas where fiber deployment is economically unfeasible. FWA is becoming a primary revenue stream, moving beyond traditional mobile subscriptions to compete directly with wired services. According to the 'Ericsson Mobility Report' from November 2024, global FWA connections were projected to reach 159 million by the end of 2024.

Simultaneously, the transition from Non-Standalone to 5G Standalone (SA) network architectures represents a critical evolution necessary to unlock services like network slicing. Unlike initial deployments relying on 4G LTE cores, 5G SA employs a cloud-native core enabling operators to configure virtualized resources for specific requirements, a capability essential for advanced enterprise use cases. The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) noted in its November 2024 '5G-Market Snapshot' that 64 operators had deployed, launched, or soft-launched standalone 5G in public networks by the end of October 2024, signaling a definitive move towards this advanced environment.

Key Players Profiled in the 5G Services Market

• AT&T, Inc.
• BT Group PLC
• China Mobile Ltd.
• China Telecom Corporation Ltd.
• Bharti Airtel Ltd.
• NTT Docomo
• KT Corp.
• Saudi Telecom Company
• Vodafone Group
• Deutsche Telekom AG

Report Scope

In this report, the Global 5G Services Market has been segmented into the following categories:

5G Services Market, by Communication Type:

• FWA
• eMBB
• uRLLC
• mMTC

5G Services Market, by Vertical:

• Manufacturing
• IT & Telecom
• BFSI
• Others

5G Services Market, by End-Use:

• Smart Cities
• Connected Workers
• Connected Vehicles
• Connected Factories
• Smart Buildings
• Smart Utilities
• Connected Healthcare
• Others

5G Services Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global 5G Services Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.