5G Core - Global Strategic Business Report

The global market for 5G Core was estimated at US$4.6 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$20.7 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 28.6% from 2024 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The report includes the most recent global tariff developments and how they impact the 5G Core market.

Global 5G Core Market - Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

Why Is the 5G Core Emerging as the Strategic Nerve Center of Next-Gen Networks?

The 5G core (5GC) plays a foundational role in enabling the full capabilities of 5G networks, acting as the central control point for traffic routing, service delivery, user authentication, and network management. Unlike previous generations that evolved incrementally from legacy architectures, the 5G core is a complete redesign based on service-based architecture (SBA), offering cloud-native, modular, and software-driven control that supports ultra-low latency, massive IoT connectivity, and network slicing. This architectural shift allows operators to launch differentiated services such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC), each with tailored performance profiles. The 5G core enables dynamic policy management, seamless mobility across network slices, and deep integration with edge computing for localized data processing. As telecom operators migrate from non-standalone (NSA) to standalone (SA) 5G networks, the 5G core is becoming essential for unlocking end-to-end 5G capabilities. Enterprises adopting private 5G networks across industries like manufacturing, energy, and logistics are also investing in dedicated 5G core solutions to ensure secure, scalable, and application-specific network performance. These shifts are positioning the 5G core as the command center of digital transformation in mobile connectivity.

How Are Cloud-Native Principles and Open Architectures Transforming the 5G Core Ecosystem?

The transition to cloud-native and containerized network functions is reshaping the design and deployment of the 5G core, enabling unprecedented flexibility, scalability, and service agility. Operators are leveraging microservices architectures to decouple network functions - such as the user plane function (UPF), access and mobility management function (AMF), and session management function (SMF) - allowing them to scale independently based on traffic demand. The integration of orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes and network function virtualization (NFV) is enabling automated deployment, lifecycle management, and fault recovery, significantly improving operational efficiency. Open APIs and standardized interfaces are promoting vendor interoperability, fostering a more competitive and innovation-driven ecosystem. The rise of Open RAN and open core initiatives is further breaking down proprietary silos and allowing telecom providers to build disaggregated networks with best-of-breed components. Public and hybrid cloud platforms are being increasingly utilized to host core functions, enabling elastic resource allocation and accelerating service rollouts. Security frameworks are also evolving, with zero-trust architecture, end-to-end encryption, and continuous monitoring integrated into core network design. These technical evolutions are allowing network operators to deliver customized, SLA-guaranteed services in real time, positioning the 5G core as a programmable engine for future digital infrastructure.

What Commercial and Regulatory Forces Are Accelerating 5G Core Adoption Across Industries?

The adoption of 5G core technology is gaining momentum due to growing commercial demand for high-performance, low-latency, and mission-critical connectivity in enterprise and public sector applications. Industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, energy, transportation, and smart cities are turning to 5G core-enabled private networks to support autonomous systems, predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics, and real-time analytics. Governments across the globe are funding digital infrastructure programs that mandate standalone 5G deployment, thereby accelerating core upgrades among telecom operators. National regulatory authorities are also establishing spectrum policies and network resilience standards that require advanced control, automation, and data sovereignty - all of which are enabled by a robust 5G core. Strategic alliances between telecom operators, hyperscalers, and enterprise vendors are driving integrated core solutions that combine connectivity with edge computing, AI, and cloud infrastructure. Use cases such as remote robotic surgery, connected industrial robotics, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and drone-based logistics rely heavily on the performance features that only a 5G core can deliver. Additionally, consumer expectations around immersive experiences, such as AR/VR, cloud gaming, and real-time streaming, are compelling network providers to adopt 5G cores that support rapid scalability and dynamic service delivery. These commercial and policy drivers are reinforcing the central role of the 5G core in shaping global digital economies.

What Is Driving the Growth of the 5G Core Market Across Network Operators and Enterprise Use Cases?

The growth in the 5G core market is driven by several converging factors linked to network modernization, service innovation, and enterprise digital transformation. The shift from NSA to SA architecture is creating direct demand for 5G core solutions that support advanced capabilities such as network slicing, QoS differentiation, and real-time analytics. Telecom operators are investing in cloud-native cores to reduce operational expenditure, improve time-to-market for new services, and enhance network resilience. The rise of private 5G deployments in smart factories, logistics hubs, oil rigs, and ports is generating demand for compact, secure, and customizable core platforms with edge orchestration capabilities. Increasing penetration of high-bandwidth consumer services - like 4K streaming, multiplayer gaming, and social AR - requires scalable core infrastructure that can handle unpredictable traffic surges. At the same time, compliance with data localization laws and national security regulations is prompting investments in locally hosted, sovereign 5G core infrastructure. Interoperability and vendor diversity enabled by open core standards are accelerating deployments across Tier 2 and Tier 3 operators. Moreover, the bundling of 5G core with MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing), SD-WAN, and AI-based orchestration is creating highly differentiated enterprise offerings. These factors collectively are establishing the 5G core as the central enabler of intelligent, high-performance, and application-specific network ecosystems worldwide.

Report Scope

The report analyzes the 5G Core market, presented in terms of market value (US$ Thousand). The analysis covers the key segments and geographic regions outlined below.

Segments: Component (5G Core Software, 5G Core Hardware); Architecture (Service-based Architecture, Cloud Native Architecture); End-User (Telecom Operators End-Use, Enterprise End-Use)

Geographic Regions/Countries: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Key Insights:

• Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the 5G Core Software segment, which is expected to reach US$14.0 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of a 33.9%. The 5G Core Hardware segment is also set to grow at 20.9% CAGR over the analysis period.
• Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, estimated at $1.2 Billion in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 38.4% CAGR to reach $5.4 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific.

Why You Should Buy This Report:

• Detailed Market Analysis: Access a thorough analysis of the Global 5G Core Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments.
• Competitive Insights: Get an overview of the competitive landscape, including the market presence of major players across different geographies.
• Future Trends and Drivers: Understand the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global 5G Core Market.
• Actionable Insights: Benefit from actionable insights that can help you identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic business decisions.

Key Questions Answered:

• How is the Global 5G Core Market expected to evolve by 2030?
• What are the main drivers and restraints affecting the market?
• Which market segments will grow the most over the forecast period?
• How will market shares for different regions and segments change by 2030?
• Who are the leading players in the market, and what are their prospects?

Report Features:

• Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2024 to 2030.
• In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.
• Company Profiles: Coverage of players such as Affirmed Networks, Alepo USA, Casa Systems, Inc., Cumucore Oy, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (HPE) and more.
• Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments.

Select Competitors (Total 36 Featured):

• Affirmed Networks
• Alepo USA
• Casa Systems, Inc.
• Cumucore Oy
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (HPE)
• Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
• Intel Corporation
• Metaswitch Networks Ltd.
• Nokia Corporation
• Oracle Corporation
• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• ZTE Corporation

Tariff Impact Analysis: Key Insights for 2025

Global tariff negotiations across 180+ countries are reshaping supply chains, costs, and competitiveness. This report reflects the latest developments as of April 2025 and incorporates forward-looking insights into the market outlook.

The analysts continuously track trade developments worldwide, drawing insights from leading global economists and over 200 industry and policy institutions, including think tanks, trade organizations, and national economic advisory bodies. This intelligence is integrated into forecasting models to provide timely, data-driven analysis of emerging risks and opportunities.

What’s Included in This Edition:

• Tariff-adjusted market forecasts by region and segment
• Analysis of cost and supply chain implications by sourcing and trade exposure
• Strategic insights into geographic shifts

Buyers receive a free July 2025 update with:

• Finalized tariff impacts and new trade agreement effects
• Updated projections reflecting global sourcing and cost shifts
• Expanded country-specific coverage across the industry