Key Data

5G Private Networks

Last Updated - June 2026

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5G Private Networks Latest Key Data

Private mobile networks continue to demonstrate that 5G’s opportunity extends well beyond public consumer services.

Over 2,000 organisations worldwide are now known to be deploying LTE or 5G private networks, and the share using 5G is rising steadily even if the transition from LTE remains gradual. The pattern of adoption across manufacturing, education, mining, defence and utilities shows that demand is being driven by operational requirements, with different sectors moving at different speeds depending on cost, coverage and performance priorities.

The GSA Private Mobile Networks Special Interest Group (SIG) champions the important role of private mobile networks based on 4G LTE, and increasingly 5G technologies, in the digital transformation of organisations and industries. The SIG now represents 17 companies, including 450Alliance, 5G-ACIA, AiLink, Airspan, Celona, Dell, Ericsson, GSMA, JMA Wireless, Keysight Technologies, Mavenir, Monogoto, Nokia, OnGo Alliance, OneLayer, PrivateLTEand5G.com and TCCA.

Membership of GSA’s Private Mobile Networks SIG is £500 per annum and includes unlimited access to the Private Networks database in GAMBoD. Signing up as a GSA Associate also includes Membership of one of the GSA SIGs or Partner status in the FWA Forum. Additional SIGs can be joined for a discounted fee (£250 per annum). For more information on GSA Working Groups, visit members.gsacom.com/WorkingGroups

5G Private Networks

Key Industry Data – as of 12th June 2026

2003 organisations are known to be deploying at least one LTE or 5G private mobile network worth more than €100,000 in 88 countries. A further 178 references are worth between €50,000 and €100,000.

GSA has identified more than 66 telecom network operators (counting national operators within the same group as distinct entities) involved with private mobile network projects.

GSA’s data indicates that the manufacturing sector is a strong adopter of private mobile networks in terms of the number of customer deployments, with 387 identified companies. The education and academic research sector is the second-most-common group, with 171 customers deploying private networks, followed by mining companies (146) and defence and peacekeeping (130). Device testing and lab-as-a-service (119) and power utility companies (119) round out the top five.

There are now 88 countries identified by GSA as having at least one private mobile network. Of the top 10 reporting countries, the number of customers in Canada grew by 5% in 1Q26, followed by the United Kingdom, which grew by 4%. The United States increased by 2% and Germany by 1%.

On average, 76% of the 2,000+ references included in the GSA database are non-public and unique, submitted by members of the GSA Private Mobile Networks Special Interest Group (SIG). This number is higher for some industries, with more than 80% of references in sectors such as military and defence, maritime and power plants not accessible in the public domain.

GSA Members & GSA Associates can access an annex containing full information of worldwide allocation of dedicated private network spectrum.

Figures

Private mobile network customer references of more than €100,000, by year announced. Data correct as of 22 May 2026

Figure 1

Private mobile network customer references of more than €100,000, by year announced. Data correct as of 22 May 2026

Private mobile network customers by technology used (base: 2,003 catalogued customers deploying private wireless networks with revenue greater than €100,000). Data correct as of 22 May 2026

Figure 2

Private mobile network customers by technology used (base: 2,003 catalogued customers deploying private wireless networks with revenue greater than €100,000). Data correct as of 22 May 2026

Number of identified customers deploying private mobile networks in trials and commercially, by sector (base: 2,003 organisations deploying private wireless networks with revenue greater than €100,000). Data correct as of 22 May 2026

Figure 3

Number of identified customers deploying private mobile networks in trials and commercially, by sector (base: 2,003 organisations deploying private wireless networks with revenue greater than €100,000). Data correct as of 22 May 2026

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Gain Further Insights

This page covers the top-level data for this topic, explore our GAMBoD databases for further data.

The seven GAMBoD databases cover devices, spectrum assignments & pricing, public & private networks, chipsets and details on mobile operators globally. The databases are updated by our focused research team, monthly or quarterly, and summary and member industry reports are published based on this data.

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