6G Networks Expected to Drive Over $100 Billion in RAN Revenue Through 2034
Key Highlights
- Dell’Oro Group projects cumulative 6G radio access network (RAN) revenue will surpass $100 billion during the first six years of the 6G deployment cycle.
- Global wireless capital expenditures are expected to exceed $500 billion during the same period, signaling substantial industry investment in next-generation networks.
- The report suggests 6G will be an evolutionary technology, leveraging Massive MIMO, existing site infrastructure, and wider channel bandwidths rather than requiring a complete network overhaul.
A new research report from Dell’Oro Group indicates that development of sixth-generation (6G) wireless technology is advancing steadily, with commercial investment expected to gain momentum toward the end of the decade.
According to the firm's latest 6G Advanced Research Report, the most likely deployment scenario positions 6G as an evolutionary step beyond current 5G networks. Rather than requiring a complete infrastructure overhaul, 6G is expected to build upon existing technologies such as Massive MIMO, current cell site deployments, and wider channel bandwidths to improve network performance and radio access network (RAN) economics.
"While the G decoupling movement is gaining momentum for all the right reasons, the most likely scenario is still that 6G will be another G, with 6G RAN CapEx expected to accelerate toward the end of the decade," said Stefan Pongratz, VP of RAN and Telecom CapEx Research at Dell'Oro Group.
Pongratz continues, "At the same time, operators are in a much stronger position today from a network capacity perspective than they were during the transition from 4G to 5G. As a result, cumulative 6G RAN revenue during the first six years of the cycle is projected to be 10 to 20 percent lower than during the comparable period of the 5G cycle."
Key Findings from the June 2026 Report
- Cumulative 6G RAN revenue is expected to surpass $100 billion during the first six years of deployment.
- Total wireless capital expenditures over the same period are projected to exceed $500 billion.
- The broader RAN market is not expected to experience significant expansion from 6G adoption, with Dell’Oro forecasting approximately 1% compound annual growth between 2030 and 2034.
- Both sub-7 GHz and centimeter-wave (cmWave) spectrum bands are expected to play important roles in future 6G deployments, while industry interest in spectrum above 7 GHz continues to increase.
- Investments in 6G RAN infrastructure between 2029 and 2034 are projected to account for roughly half of all RAN capital spending during that period.
About the Report
Dell’Oro Group’s 6G Advanced Research Report provides analysis of global RAN market trends and forecasts through 2034. The report examines RAN revenue by wireless generation from 2G through 6G and includes segmentation by spectrum bands, Massive MIMO deployments, RF power classifications, and geographic regions including North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, China, Asia-Pacific (excluding China), and the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA).
Source: Dell'Oro Group
Stay Connected with ISE Magazine
Subscribe to our newsletters and magazine for the latest telecom insights, explore the current issue for in-depth features and strategies, and register for upcoming webinars to learn directly from industry leaders.