Executive Summary / Current Market Status
As of June 2025, the private mobile networks market continues to expand, registering a total of 1,772 private mobile network customer references in 1Q25, including those valued over €100,000, according to the 3GPP based wireless industry association GSA. While the total number of deployments grows, the pace of acquiring new customer references has seen a slight moderation, with 58 net additions over €100,000 in 1Q25, a decrease from the previous quarter but an improvement year-over-year.
The trend, as highlighted by the GSA report, indicates a market maturation where providers are focusing on meaningful expansion within existing accounts, including multi-site deployments and new revenue streams, rather than solely on initial customer wins. Macroeconomic turbulence observed in 1Q25 has been noted by the GSA, but members of the GSA Private Mobile Networks Special Interest Group (SIG) generally view these disruptions as short-lived, with business investment expected to normalize post 1Q25.
Key Trends Driving Private 5G
- Growth Nuances & Market Maturation: The industry is witnessing a transition from pure customer acquisition to meaningful expansion within existing deployments. This includes the implementation of additional networks and new sites for current clients, indicating a strategic deepening of relationships between providers and customers. Approximately 74% of the private network references in GSA’s database are non-public, confidential deployments, underscoring the strategic and often sensitive nature of these rollouts, especially across sectors like military, defense, maritime, and power generation, where over 80% of deployments are not publicly visible.
- Sector Dominance & 5G Adoption: Manufacturing remains the leading sector for private networks, adding eight new references in 1Q25, closely followed by strong adoption in education and academic research, and mining. While 4G LTE-based private networks still hold a significant share, 5G adoption is steadily increasing, with 5G technologies being used in 829 (47%) of the cataloged customer references according to GSA Research. It is important to note that a substantial portion of these 5G references are still in trial, educational, or test-bed phases rather than full-scale industrial operations.
- Spectrum & Dedicated Deployments: The availability of dedicated, locally licensed, or leased spectrum continues to be a critical enabler, showing a strong positive correlation with the number of private network deployments globally, as evidenced by the GSA report. This dedicated spectrum supports the performance, security, and control demanded by enterprise and industrial use cases, reinforcing the shift towards truly private and sovereign network infrastructures.
Ecosystem Dynamics & Provider Impact
The private 5G ecosystem is robust and diverse, comprising over 50 equipment vendors (including prominent players like Celona), more than 66 telecom network operators, various system integrators (such as NTT and other consulting firms), and increasingly, global cloud providers (hyperscalers). This broad participation is leading to a more mature market with intensified competition and collaboration.
Notably, traditional wireless providers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T are actively expanding their presence in the P5G space, leveraging their spectrum holdings and network expertise to offer private network solutions to enterprises. These carriers are positioning themselves as key partners, offering various deployment models from fully managed services to spectrum leasing, aiming to simplify enterprise adoption of private cellular.
For private 5G providers, the increasing commercial availability of pre-integrated solutions from equipment vendors is simplifying the deployment process, providing significant market impetus, a point frequently highlighted in the GSA research report.
Hyperscalers, leveraging their expansive cloud infrastructure and deep enterprise relationships, are poised to drive additional growth, particularly by offering cloud-native core network solutions and simplifying management for enterprises. Legacy cellular providers must focus on delivering tangible value beyond mere connectivity, emphasizing vertical-specific solutions and simplified operational models – a significant challenge for many who typically operate with a broader, more generalized approach.
Outlook
The outlook for the Private 5G industry remains positive, driven by the ongoing digital transformation needs of enterprises across various sectors. The market is evolving beyond initial trials towards industrial-grade, mission-critical deployments. While economic headwinds in the manufacturing industry, a key growth sector, have been a factor influencing the pace of adoption, overall private network deployments continue to expand. This sustained growth, even amidst challenges, underscores the fundamental value proposition of Private 5G.
Since manufacturing consistently leads in new deployments, once these economic winds shift, the private 5G industry stands to see significantly more rapid growth. Success for providers will increasingly hinge on their ability to offer comprehensive, scalable, and easy-to-deploy solutions that address specific industry challenges.
Strategic partnerships, such as those seen between equipment vendors, operators, and cloud providers, will be crucial in expanding market reach and accelerating adoption. The continued focus on dedicated spectrum and the maturation of 5G Standalone capabilities will unlock the full potential of private networks, making them an indispensable component of modern enterprise infrastructure.
