The 5G market is poised for significant expansion, presenting telco operators with clear opportunities for revenue growth. Enterprises within industries like manufacturing and healthcare are seeing private 5G deployments rapidly catch up to 4G/Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployments as they require advanced cellular capabilities to facilitate mission- and safety-critical applications. Developments such as these will increase the Total Addressable Market (TAM) for 5G services from US$2.7 billion in 2025 to US$29 billion by 2030, representing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 61%. That is according to ABI Research’s Private Cellular Network Forecasts, which was published in 1Q 2025.
In this blog, we will explore the top five industries driving this revenue growth in the 5G market, along with the use cases contributing to their success.
Chart 1: 5G Market Revenue by Industry, 2022 to 2030
ABI Research’s revenue forecast considered the following 5G solutions:
- Radio Access Network (RAN) (which typically translates into small cells deployed, as well as the labor cost associated with this deployment)
- Core network deployments
- Edge & Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) deployments (hardware only)
- Professional services
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Manufacturing
- 2025 Revenue: US$1 billion
- 2030 Revenue: US$8.7 billion
- CAGR: 54.1%
Use Cases: The manufacturing sector leverages 5G infrastructure for real-time automation, robotics, and connecting machinery and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for efficient production monitoring. It also enables seamless communication across smart factories, enhancing collaboration and operational precision. For telco operators, manufacturers represent a substantial opportunity to deliver high-capacity cellular networks to industrial clients aiming to maximize operational efficiency. ABI Research has discovered through several discussions with industry stakeholders that private 5G can yield up to 30% improvement in productivity and a 40% decrease in work-related injuries.
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Energy Generation
- 2025 Revenue: US$381 million
- 2030 Revenue: US$8.3 billion
- CAGR: 85.7%
Use Cases: 5G services support remote monitoring of energy assets like oil & gas rigs, wind farms, and solar grids, ensuring low-latency data transmission. These work environments are often hazardous, posing significant risks to human workers. Technologies such as inspection robots and inspection drones are paramount to eliminating the associated risks, but they require uninterrupted connectivity. This is where 5G is invaluable, ensuring that automated systems remain functional throughout the process. And as demonstrated through the partnership of Telekom Malaysia and global energy provider PETRONAS, a 5G network also reduces oil & gas firms’ carbon footprint because unmanned operations eliminate the need for inspectors to travel to the work site.
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Logistics
- 2025 Revenue: US$160 million
- 2030 Revenue: US$3.9 billion
- CAGR: 88.8%
Use Cases: 5G enhances the logistics industry through real-time shipment tracking, warehouse automation, and improved fleet management. These applications demand reliable cellular networks, positioning telcos as key partners in digitalizing global supply chains. As pointed out in a whitepaper our analysts wrote, 5G provides the connectivity backbone needed for seamless cross-team communication, machine vision-based load monitoring, enhanced safety/security, voice and vision picking, and self-driving forklifts.
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Stadiums & Events
- 2025 Revenue: US$964 million
- 2030 Revenue: US$2.9 billion
- CAGR: 24.6%
Use Cases: Currently, the second-largest market for 5G is stadiums and event locations, but it will slip to fourth place by 2030 as it will see a more stable 24.6% CAGR. 5G infrastructure supports high-density connectivity for large crowds, enabling fast live streaming and Augmented Reality (AR) features. It also streamlines operations like digital ticketing and Point of Sale (POS) transactions. Telco operators can target this market by offering private 5G networks to venue operators seeking to elevate attendee experiences. For example, T-Mobile’s 5G Standalone (SA) network was recently leveraged for a Formula 1 (F1) race in Las Vegas. The network enabled fans to use 360° Track View, a mobile app that gives users a driver’s-eye view of an F1 vehicle in motion. T-Mobile’s 5G network was also used to facilitate transactions at the 230 POS devices used by food vendors and merchandise vendors at the race.
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Healthcare
- 2025 Revenue: US$91 million
- 2030 Revenue: US$3.7 billion
- CAGR: 108.8%
Use Cases: Healthcare exhibits the highest growth rate, at a robust 108.8% CAGR. Notable 5G use cases in the healthcare sector include enabling telemedicine with high-quality video, supporting low-latency remote surgeries, facilitating significantly quicker file transmissions, and connecting wearable devices for patient monitoring. For telco operators, this sector offers a compelling case to deploy dependable 5G networks that meet critical healthcare needs. As a case study, consider the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine’s 5G-powered smart hospital. The improved bandwidth and services provided by AT&T’s on-site 5G network allow the Institute to leverage wearable sensors, offer highly personalized patient care, and capture data-intensive image files for optimal healthcare outcomes.
Next Steps for Telco Operators
To explore these trends further, download ABI Research’s latest private cellular network revenue forecasts. These offer detailed insights to help telco operators refine strategies and seize growth opportunities in the evolving 5G market.
