Communications Service Providers (CSPs) increased their 5G packet core network investments by 83 per cent year-on-year during the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the latest industry analysts at Omdia.

The firm’s latest report shows that this surge reflects strong momentum behind 5G Standalone deployments, alongside a continued emphasis on digital transformation and new revenue streams.

North America and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) emerged as the leading growth regions, with operators prioritising scalability, cost efficiency and AI-enabled network differentiation.

Globally, a total of 88 operators have launched 5G Standalone networks, opening up new monetisation opportunities through network slicing, ultra-reliable low-latency communications and enterprise services.

“The surge in 5G core investment underscores CSPs’ strategic focus on enabling new revenue streams and digital transformation,” said Principal Analyst Mobile Infrastructure at Omdia Roberto Kompany.

“This momentum is reflected in AT&T’s nationwide 5G SA and RedCap deployment and Verizon’s launch of a new enterprise-grade fixed wireless access slice,” he added.

The report also identified Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE and Cisco as the top five vendors by core network market share during the quarter.

Omdia expects 5G core investments to maintain strong double-digit growth in 2026, driven by the need to deliver nationwide services and higher network capacity.

The findings further highlight that operators are responding to evolving customer demand by expanding infrastructure and capabilities.