Africa 5G Core Network - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The africa 5G core network market size was valued at USD 0.63 billion in 2025 and is estimated to expand from USD 0.97 billion in 2026 to USD 3.62 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 30.13% during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is Segmented by Component (Solutions, and Services), Deployment Model (On-Premises/Dedicated, Public Cloud, and Hybrid and Telco Edge Cloud), End-User (Telecom Operators, and Enterprises), Network Function (Network Exposure Function, User Plane Function, Application Function, Unified Data Management, and More), and Country. The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Africa 5G Core Network Market Trends and Insights

Accelerated 5G Standalone Core Deployments by Tier-1 Mobile Operators

Tier-1 operators entered 2026 with 5G standalone commitments moving into active procurement and deployment programs. The Africa 5G core network market benefits when group-level operators apply common cloud platforms across several national businesses. MTN Group's MUNA framework supported cloud-native modernization programs in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Uganda. Ericsson reported that MTN South Africa completed an automated in-service software upgrade on a live Packet Core Gateway while it handled 2.52 million active sessions and 40 Gbps of traffic in 2025. That operational result shows why operators may favor an established core supplier when a platform carries a large live subscriber base. GSMA Intelligence recorded 61 operators offering commercial 5G services in 37 African markets by mid-2026, giving the Africa 5G core network market a wider base for later standalone upgrades.

Rising Need for Network Slicing for Enterprise and Industrial Connectivity

Network slicing enables operators to assign defined network performance to a specific enterprise or public service. This capability depends on a standalone core deployment, making slicing demand closely tied to the timing of core modernization. GSMA Intelligence reported that 32 companies across Africa were procuring private-network equipment in early 2025, with activity concentrated in South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, and Ghana. Mining, manufacturing, logistics, and public safety users can require service levels that conventional consumer mobile offers cannot provide. Inwi deployed Morocco's first private industrial 5G network at the Nador West Med industrial hub in April 2026, in partnership with China Mobile International and Huawei, to support automation, real-time monitoring, Internet of Things applications, and remote sensing. These projects increase the value of the Network Exposure Function, as enterprise applications require secure access to specific network capabilities.

High Network Modernization Cost and Long Payback Period

Core modernization requires substantial initial spending before operators can generate material new enterprise revenue. The challenge is most acute where average revenue per user is low, and 4G networks still meet much of the demand for mobile data. The Nigerian Communications Commission reported that industry investment exceeded USD 1 billion in 2025, while 5G accounted for 4.2% of mobile connections in March 2026. This gap can lengthen payback periods for a full standalone core, particularly where consumer adoption is concentrated in major cities. Managed core services can reduce the initial capital burden, but they require sufficient data center infrastructure and skilled operational support. Smaller operators may therefore retain existing core platforms until enterprise demand and radio coverage strengthen.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Cloud-Native Core Migration to Reduce Long-Term Operating Costs
• Demand for Low-Latency Public Safety and Smart City Connectivity
• Limited Fiber Backhaul and Data Center Readiness

Segment Analysis

Solutions are expected to account for 58.91% of Africa 5G core network market revenue in 2025. The segment includes packet-core software, network functions virtualization infrastructure, and orchestration and management platforms. These products represent a significant initial share of spending because operators must establish the core technical foundation for standalone 5G. Packet-core software includes essential access, session, and user-plane functions. The Africa 5G core network market relies on these functions to manage mobile sessions, route traffic, enforce subscriber policies, and ensure service quality. MTN South Africa is expected to deploy Ericsson’s cloud-native packet core and user-management functions on a cloud-native infrastructure platform in 2025. This deployment highlights the role of software platforms in multi-year operator modernization plans.

Services are projected to expand at a CAGR of 34.11% from 2026 to 2031. The category includes integration and deployment, consulting, advisory services, support, and maintenance. Demand for services increases when operators migrate subscriber data, policy controls, and legacy systems without disrupting live services. It also rises when operators integrate multiple vendors into a shared cloud environment. AMD reported that 39% of surveyed communications service providers expected to create combined telecom cloud teams for core and virtual radio access network operations. This operational convergence supports recurring integration and managed-service work. The Africa 5G core network industry may see systems integrators play a larger role where smaller operators lack internal cloud operations teams. Vendors with established local support capabilities may also benefit as upgrades progress beyond the initial deployment stage.

On-premises and dedicated systems are expected to account for 49.99% of revenue in the Africa 5G core network market in 2025. This position reflects security, sovereignty, and operational requirements among government-related and security-sensitive users. It also reflects the limited availability of large cloud regions in many countries. Dedicated systems give operators greater direct control over data handling, user-plane placement, and network operations. They can better support workloads that require data to remain within a defined jurisdiction. This deployment model also supports enterprises that require a separate and auditable core environment. These factors keep on-premise systems important even as public cloud options become more available.

Hybrid and telco edge cloud deployments are projected to expand at a CAGR of 32.19% from 2026 to 2031. Operators use these models to place user-plane processing closer to enterprise locations while retaining control-plane functions in centralized cloud environments. This approach can reduce application latency and backhaul traffic for local data flows. Intel, Nokia, and Dell Technologies are expected to present a low-footprint far-edge User Plane Function device at MWC 2026, offering 30% higher performance than the preceding solution. The device is designed for enterprise and industrial locations with limited space and infrastructure. The Africa 5G core network market will depend on greater availability of fiber and data centers for this model to expand beyond primary cities. The model offers a way to support fixed wireless access, private 5G, and industrial applications without placing every network function at the edge.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Component
  • Solutions
    • Packet-Core Software
    • NFV Infrastructure
    • Orchestration and Management
  • Services
    • Integration and Deployment
    • Consulting and Advisory
    • Support and Maintenance
• By Deployment Model
  • On-Premise/Dedicated
  • Public Cloud
  • Hybrid and Telco Edge Cloud
• By End-User
  • Telecom Operators
  • Enterprises
    • Manufacturing
    • Energy and Utilities
    • Transportation and Logistics
    • Public Safety and Emergency
    • Smart Cities and Municipalities
• By Network Function
  • Network Exposure Function (NEF)
  • User Plane Function (UPF)
  • Application Function (AF)
  • Unified Data Management (UDM)
  • Session Management Function (SMF)
  • Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF)
  • Policy Control Function (PCF)
  • Network Repository Function (NRF)
  • Authentication Server Function (AUSF)
  • Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)
• By Country
  • South Africa
  • Nigeria
  • Rest of Africa

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
• Nokia Corporation
• Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
• ZTE Corporation
• Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Mavenir Systems, Inc.
• Oracle Corporation
• Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Dell Technologies Inc.
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
• NEC Corporation
• Juniper Networks, Inc.
• Amdocs Limited
• Wind River Systems, Inc.
• Parallel Wireless, Inc.
• Athonet S.r.l.
• Radisys Corporation
• Tech Mahindra Limited

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support