The latest market data from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) highlights the continued momentum of private mobile networks built on 4G LTE and 5G. Enterprises and governments are increasingly deploying these networks to support digitisation, automation and secure mobility, especially in sectors where reliability and coverage are critical.
As of the second quarter of 2025, GSA has identified 1,846 organisations worldwide that have deployed at least one private mobile network worth over €100,000, with a further 151 smaller references in the €50,000 to €100,000 range. During the quarter, 74 new large-scale deployments were added, alongside 14 in the lower value bracket. These figures exclude site expansions and contract extensions, suggesting that actual activity is higher than the headline totals indicate.
Private mobile networks are now present in 80 countries, with the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, China and Japan leading adoption. Growth has been particularly strong in markets such as Malaysia and Mexico, which saw sharp percentage increases from a smaller base. Across industries, manufacturing remains the largest adopter with 359 identified deployments, followed by education and research institutions, mining and defence. Seaports, smart cities and device testing facilities are also seeing growing uptake.
Manufacturing remains the dominant industry for private mobile network adoption, with 359 deployments identified. Education and research institutions form the second-largest group, reflecting the role of testbeds and innovation projects in driving early 5G use. Mining and defence also feature prominently, both sectors requiring highly resilient and secure connectivity in demanding environments. Other areas showing steady growth include seaports, smart cities, utilities and device testing facilities, pointing to the broadening industrial base for private LTE and 5G.
In terms of technology, LTE still dominates with 1,293 identified customers, but 5G is increasingly significant, accounting for deployments at 876 organisations. Around 19% of deployments combine LTE and 5G, reflecting the gradual migration path enterprises are taking. Although the number of 5G references is high, a large share are associated with long-term trials and testbeds rather than fully operational industrial use.
The supplier landscape remains diverse, with more than 50 equipment vendors active in the market, alongside over 66 telecom operators, integrators, consulting firms and software providers. Cloud hyperscalers are also making their presence felt by offering private network solutions, often in partnership with operators or vendors. Pre-integrated solutions continue to simplify adoption and help accelerate deployment.
Overall, private mobile networks have been growing at a compound annual rate of 63% since 2017. While new announcements slowed slightly in 2025 compared to previous years, the GSA notes that this reflects a shift towards scaling existing projects rather than a decline in interest. Many enterprises are now moving from single-site pilots to multi-site deployments, signalling that private LTE and 5G are becoming embedded in long-term digital transformation strategies.
You can download the report here.
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