The global mobile network market may be moving past its prolonged downturn, but the recovery is taking different forms across the network. RAN revenues posted a third consecutive quarter of modest growth in 2Q 2026, while the mobile core market is being reshaped by the accelerating adoption of 5G Standalone in Europe.
Dell’Oro Group’s latest data points to a more stable RAN environment after more than two years of contraction. Worldwide RAN revenue increased modestly year-on-year in the second quarter, with Huawei posting a strong quarter while Ericsson’s performance was softer than expected. Despite the improvement, Dell’Oro continues to expect the global RAN market to remain broadly flat for the full year.
The picture is more dynamic in the mobile core. EMEA 5G Mobile Core Network revenue jumped more than 30% year-on-year in 2Q 2026, reaching a new high and making the region the largest contributor to the worldwide 5G MCN market. The surge reflects Europe’s leading position in 5G SA for consumer services, with 80% of operators that had launched such networks in 2026 located in the region.
Yet the core market also highlights the pressures facing operators. Rising server prices are forcing greater scrutiny of network investment, while IMS revenue contracted for the third consecutive quarter and voice core revenue declined across most regions. Meanwhile, 5G MCN revenue has still not caught up with the levels previously achieved by 4G MCN.
Taken together, the two reports suggest that mobile network recovery is becoming more visible, but not necessarily broader or uniform. RAN is stabilizing as the coverage-to-capacity correction fades, while investment is shifting within the core toward 5G SA and automation. For vendors and operators, the next phase of the market will depend less on a simple return to growth and more on where network spending is being redirected.
Juan Pedro Tomas
Editor
RCR Wireless News
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