Global 5G Core Network Market Performance in Q1 2026: Divergent Trends Inside and Outside China
author: Hover Technology
2026-05-26
Sean Morgan, analyst at Dell’Oro Group, commented that the strong growth momentum of 5G core network revenue across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) continued into Q1 2026, with a year-on-year increase of 20% in these regions. The main reason for the downturn in China’s market is that domestic telecom operators have completed large-scale investment in 5G Standalone (5G SA) networks. Meanwhile, the overall capital expenditure of China’s telecom industry is expected to drop significantly throughout 2026.
On a global scale, 5G Standalone reached a key inflection point in 2025. Major vendors including Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia keep expanding their presence and capturing market share from smaller competitors. Faced with rising server costs, mobile operators worldwide have become more cautious about network project budgets, yet leading suppliers still maintain steady market expansion.
The Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) sector also posted positive growth in Q1 2026. China remains the world’s leading market for large-scale MEC deployment and practical application.
Legacy network business still demonstrates solid vitality. The revenue growth of 4G packet core networks outperformed the overall market, reflecting continuous market demand for operation, maintenance and technical upgrades of existing 4G infrastructure.
In terms of vendor market share in non-China mobile core network markets during Q1 2026, Nokia saw the largest share growth. Huawei ranked first in share gains across all markets excluding North America. Ericsson achieved the highest growth rate in the global IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) market.
Currently, the nominal revenue of 5G mobile core networks has not yet surpassed that of 4G core networks. To realize network operation automation and lift Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), the telecom industry will further popularize 5G Standalone and accelerate the commercial rollout of 5G-Advanced (5G-A).
Disclaimer：
This article is compiled based on public industry research data for reference only. We do not guarantee the absolute accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the content. No investment advice is implied. Readers shall make independent judgments and bear corresponding risks.
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