The global RAN market remains under pressure, but growth has not disappeared. It has shifted.
New data from Omdia shows stronger activity outside China during the first half of 2026. The firm estimates global radio access network revenue reached about $17 billion. This includes hardware and software, but excludes services.
Speaking to RCR Wireless News, Rémy Pascal, practice leader for mobile infrastructure and RAN lead analyst at Omdia, pointed to several active regions. Asia-Pacific excluding China, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America led the growth.
Europe also showed pockets of strength. Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland, and the UK contributed to demand. In the Middle East and Africa, growth came from Algeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE.
Meanwhile, Latin America saw activity in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. In Asia and Oceania, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand stood out.
The market story centers on 5G expansion and network upgrades. Some countries still need broad 5G rollouts. Others now add more capacity in busy areas. Operators also add second or third 5G bands to improve performance.
This creates opportunities for vendors and carriers. Better coverage can support fixed-wireless access and enterprise services. Modernized sites can also lower operating costs over time.
However, spending remains uneven. China’s weaker performance continues to weigh on global results. That limits the broader market rebound, even as other regions improve. Omdia expects single-digit growth outside China for the full year.
Vendor changes also influence the market. Pascal said operators now replace equipment for wider reasons. Technology performance and commercial value increasingly drive decisions. This marks a shift from earlier replacement programs focused on security concerns.
The supplier landscape remains highly concentrated. Huawei led global RAN revenue in the first half of 2026. Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE, and Samsung followed. Together, these five vendors held about 95% of the global market.
The picture changes when China is removed. Ericsson led the market outside China. Huawei ranked second, followed by Nokia, Samsung, and ZTE.
Regional leadership also remains fragmented. Ericsson led in North America and Europe. Huawei led in Asia and Oceania, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.
Omdia does not expect major regional vendor shifts soon. Yet the global balance may still move. Emerging markets now represent a larger share of demand.
“With more emerging markets in the mix, it has been recently benefiting Huawei, and this is likely to continue in the near future,” Pascal said.
For operators, the message is clear. RAN investment has not stopped. It now follows regional demand, modernization needs, and practical business cases.
