AI-RAN Market to Grow to $10 Billion by 2029 (Dell'Oro Group Forecast)

Research firm Dell'Oro Group released its latest report on the AI-RAN market outlook, the AI RAN Advanced Research Report, on July 10, 2025. In it, the report predicts that the size of the AI-RAN market, which integrates AI and RAN (radio access network), will surpass $10 billion by 2029. This will account for about one-third of the total RAN market.

According to the report, the AI-RAN market will expand significantly over the next five years, with the short-term focus on Distributed-RAN (D-RAN, distributed RAN) and deployments targeting a single specific function and use cases that will enhance 5G networks. In addition, for carriers, the deployment of AI-RAN will be more about improving performance, optimizing operations, and increasing energy efficiency rather than securing new revenue streams in the immediate future.

Stefan Pongratz, VP of the Dell'Oro Group, said, "There is a strong consensus that AI-RAN will improve the user experience, improve performance, reduce power consumption, and play an important role in the broader automation journey," but added, "However, there is dramatically improve profitability, a perennial issue in the telecommunications industry," he commented, "However, many are cautious about the view that AI will dramatically improve profitability.

Materials

• AI RAN to Top $10 Billion by 2029, According to Dell'Oro Group
• AI RAN to capture third of Radio Network market by 2029: Dell'Oro
• AI-RAN market to surpass $10B valuation by 2029, says report
• AI RAN market to hit $10B by 2029