Network Engineering Services Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Network Engineering Services Market is projected to expand from USD 39.01 Billion in 2025 to USD 70.29 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 10.31%. These services involve the strategic planning, design, deployment, and lifecycle management of communication infrastructures necessary to maintain reliable global connectivity. The market is propelled by the widespread adoption of cloud computing, the rapid growth of IoT ecosystems, and the extensive rollout of next-generation wireless networks, all of which necessitate specialized technical expertise. This infrastructure boom demands substantial engineering support; according to the 'GSMA', 5G connections were projected in 2024 to constitute 51% of total mobile connections globally by 2029, highlighting the immense scale of required engineering efforts.

However, a major obstacle to market growth is the severe shortage of skilled professionals able to manage increasingly complex, software-defined network environments. As enterprises modernize their systems, the lack of talent proficient in areas like virtualization and network security restricts the ability of service providers to execute projects efficiently. This skills gap frequently leads to implementation delays and increased operational costs, effectively slowing the rapid adoption of advanced network technologies.

Market Drivers

The rapid deployment and commercialization of 5G infrastructure serve as a primary catalyst for the network engineering services sector. As telecommunications operators shift from non-standalone to standalone architectures, the engineering requirements for core network integration, fiber backhaul densification, and antenna optimization become increasingly complex. This architectural transition necessitates specialized engineering intervention to handle the physical and virtual intricacies of next-generation connectivity. According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) '5G Standalone Summary' from May 2024, 49 operators had deployed or soft-launched 5G Standalone public networks globally, reflecting the intense engineering activity needed to operationalize these advanced frameworks.

Simultaneously, the exponential rise in global mobile data traffic drives service providers to continuously upgrade network capacity and resilience. The spread of bandwidth-intensive applications demands rigorous capacity planning and load balancing to uphold service quality. This relentless surge compels operators to invest heavily in network modernization and optimization services to prevent congestion and ensure low-latency performance.

According to the 'Ericsson Mobility Report' from June 2024, global mobile network data traffic increased by 25 percent between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, illustrating the massive load engineering teams must manage. To support such expanding ecosystems, significant capital is directed toward infrastructure improvements; CTIA reported in 2024 that the U.S. wireless industry invested $30 billion the previous year to enhance network capabilities, underscoring the market's financial scale.

Market Challenges

The primary challenge hindering the Global Network Engineering Services Market is the acute shortage of qualified personnel needed to manage modern, software-defined infrastructures. As communication networks evolve toward complex cloud integrations and virtualization, the demand for specialized technical proficiency significantly exceeds the available labor supply. This discrepancy compels service providers to delay critical implementation phases and allocate larger budgets for talent acquisition, which directly erodes profit margins and operational efficiency. The inability to rapidly staff projects with competent engineers prevents service providers from meeting the rising demand for next-generation connectivity, thereby slowing the overall momentum of market expansion.

The magnitude of this workforce deficiency is particularly evident in the shortage of experts capable of securing these advanced networks. According to 'ISC2', the global cybersecurity workforce gap reached a record high of 4.8 million professionals in 2024. This substantial deficit in available talent limits the capacity of network engineering firms to secure and maintain global infrastructures effectively. Consequently, the persistent difficulty in sourcing skilled labor acts as a functional bottleneck, restricting the market from realizing its full potential despite strong demand.

Market Trends

The expansion of Private 5G Network Engineering for Enterprises is reshaping the sector as organizations seek dedicated connectivity infrastructures. Unlike public networks, these bespoke environments require specialized engineering to ensure low latency and seamless integration with Operational Technology (OT) systems. This trend necessitates firms to design isolated architectures that support Industry 4.0 applications, such as autonomous robotics. According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) 'PrivateMobileNetworks June 2024 Summary', the cumulative number of customer references deploying private mobile networks reached 1,427 by the first quarter, reflecting the intensifying demand for specialized infrastructure design.

Simultaneously, the integration of AIOps for Predictive Network Management has emerged as a critical trend for service providers striving to maintain stability amidst growing architectural complexity. As virtualized environments densify, traditional manual maintenance becomes obsolete, requiring artificial intelligence-driven engineering frameworks that predict faults before they impact service quality. This transition forces engineering teams to embed machine learning algorithms to automate root cause analysis and dynamic resource allocation. This shift is evident in strategic planning; according to Cisco's '2024 Global Networking Trends Report' from May 2024, 60% of IT leaders expect to have AI-enabled predictive network automation across all domains, underscoring the pivot toward automated engineering solutions.

Key Players Profiled in the Network Engineering Services Market

• Cisco Systems, Inc.
• IBM Corporation
• NVIDIA Corporation
• HCLTech Ltd.
• Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
• Infosys Limited
• Fujitsu Limited
• Wipro Limited
• Juniper Networks, Inc.
• AT&T Inc.

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Network Engineering Services Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Network Engineering Services Market, by Type:

• Network Assessment
• Network Design
• Network Deployment

Network Engineering Services Market, by Vertical:

• Telecom
• Banking & Financial Services
• Education
• Energy & Utilities
• Healthcare

Network Engineering 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 Network Engineering 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.