Global Telecom Equipment Market Rebounds with 4% Growth in Early 2025
The rebound was broad-based across all telecom programs, with the Mobile Core Network (MCN), Optical Transport, and Service Provider Router & Switch segments leading the gains.
After two consecutive years of declining investment, the global telecom equipment market is showing signs of recovery. Preliminary data from Dell’Oro Group indicates that total worldwide telecom equipment revenues across six key segments — Broadband Access, Microwave & Optical Transport, Mobile Core Network (MCN), Radio Access Network (RAN), and Service Provider Router & Switch — rose by 4% year-over-year (Y/Y) in the first half of 2025 (1H25).
Growth was particularly strong outside of China, where revenues surged 8% Y/Y in 1H25. The rebound was broad-based across all telecom programs, with the Mobile Core Network (MCN), Optical Transport, and Service Provider Router & Switch segments leading the gains. Analysts attribute this turnaround to easier year-over-year comparisons, inventory stabilization, and favorable currency movements, all of which helped offset the headwinds that had constrained spending in 2023 and 2024.
Despite the overall improvement, the supplier leaderboard remained largely consistent. However, Huawei continued to expand its market share, while Ericsson and Nokia experienced modest declines compared with 2024 levels. This shift underscores Huawei’s growing dominance, especially in regions less impacted by trade restrictions.
In light of these trends, Dell’Oro Group has revised its short-term forecast upward. Global telecom equipment revenues across the six tracked programs are now expected to grow 2% to 3% in 2025, compared with a flat outlook in the 2024 report. While analysts remain cautious about long-term demand amid economic and geopolitical uncertainties, the first half of 2025 marks a clear inflection point for the industry — signaling renewed momentum in global network infrastructure investment.
