Dell’Oro Group Reports 19% Growth in Mobile Core Networks

According to a recent report by Dell’Oro Group, the market for Mobile Core Networks (MCN) has experienced a growth rate of 19 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025, driven by 5G Standalone (SA) service launches by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

Market Growth Overview

The report highlights a remarkable increase in the 5G MCN segment, which grew by 31 percent compared to the previous year. Voice Core segments also showed an 18 percent year-over-year growth, contributing to the overall positive trend for Multicloud Networking (MCNS) in 2025.

5G Standalone Launches

71 MNOs have launched 5G SA services, with five new launches reported in 2025. Research Director Dave Bolan emphasized that the growth rate for 2025 is now projected at 10 percent year-over-year due to an increase in subscribers and network launches.

Advancements in Technology

The maturation of 5G SA networks is linked to the introduction of features such as new radio (5G New Radio (NR)), reduced capability (RedCap), and network slicing. 5G New Radio (NR) RedCap aims to enhance the cost-efficiency of 5G Internet of Things (IoT) devices, with dynamic network slicing enabling tailored performance to meet user demands.

Voice Core Development

MNOs are also transitioning their voice cores to cloud-native structures, thus supporting the growth of the Voice Core market and further propelling the expansion of the 5G Mobile Core segment.

Additional Insights

The report noted a 32 percent growth year-over-year for Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) in Q2 2025, with projections indicating a 44 percent growth for the year. Vendor rankings for the quarter identified Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, and ZTE as the leading companies in the MCN sphere.

Conclusion

This overview of the Dell’Oro Group report provides IT leaders with insights regarding the 5G MCN market trends and technological developments. The information summarizes the market's trajectory and the implications of MNO strategies on the growth of the telecommunications sector.