Weaker Campus Network Outlook Weighs on Forecast as Wide-Area Opportunities Strengthen
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – October 20, 2026 – According to a newly published forecast report by Dell’Oro Group, a trusted source for market information about the telecommunications, security networks, and data center industries, Private Wireless Radio Access Network (RAN) revenue growth slowed to the mid-single digits in the first half of 2026, reflecting a more challenging environment for campus deployments. Wide-area private wireless networks are increasingly supporting market growth, driven by opportunities in public safety, utilities, transportation, and other mission-critical applications.
“Private wireless continues to grow, but the market is developing more slowly than initially anticipated,” said Stefan Pongratz, Vice President at the Dell’Oro Group. “The divergence between campus and wide-area deployments is becoming more pronounced. While enterprise adoption remains gradual, demand for larger and more demanding wide-area networks is providing an important source of growth. We remain optimistic about the broader long-term private 5G/6G opportunity, though the adoption curve is clearly more gradual than initially expected.”
Additional highlights from the October 2026 Private Wireless Report:
- Private Wireless RAN revenue increased at a mid-single-digit rate in 1H26, down from the double-digit growth recorded in 2025.
- The overall Private Wireless RAN forecast has been revised downward again, reflecting weaker-than-expected campus network deployments. The outlook for wide-area private wireless networks has improved.
- The vendor landscape remains highly concentrated, with Huawei, Nokia, Ericsson, ZTE, and Samsung accounting for approximately 95 percent of the global Private Wireless RAN market in 1H26.
- In 1H26, Huawei was the largest Private Wireless RAN supplier globally based on revenue, while Nokia and Ericsson continue to dominate the market outside China.
- Despite slowing growth and downward forecast revisions, private wireless remains one of the stronger growth opportunities within the broader RAN market, which is expected to remain relatively flat. Private Wireless RAN revenue is projected to grow at a 10 to 13 percent CAGR over the next five years.
Dell’Oro Group’s Private Wireless Advanced Research Report includes quarterly vendor share data and a 5-year forecast for Private Wireless RAN by coverage, technology, and region. To purchase this report, please contact us at dgsales@delloro.com.
Dell’Oro Group is a market research firm that specializes in strategic competitive analysis in the telecommunications, security, enterprise networks, and data center markets. Our firm provides in-depth quantitative data and qualitative analysis to facilitate critical, fact-based business decisions. For more information, contact Dell’Oro Group at +1.650.622.9400 or visit https://www.delloro.com.
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