Global RAN Intelligent Controller Market is valued at approximately USD 135.71 million in 2022 and is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 61.0% during the forecast period 2023-2030. The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is a centralized software platform in modern Radio Access Networks (RANs) that optimizes network resources, supports real-time adjustments, and enables intelligent automation to enhance network performance and efficiency in 5G. RAN Intelligent Controllers streamline network operations, enhancing performance and simplifying maintenance through automated configuration. Amidst growing network complexity, operators seek efficient management solutions to optimize performance and cut costs. RAN Intelligent Controllers, or RICs, provide advanced control and coordination as it positioned between RAN hardware and core networks, meeting the telecommunications sector’s demand for innovative network optimization solutions. The soaring demand for high-speed, low-latency connections, rising inclination towards open and disaggregated networks, coupled with the increasing requirement to manage and optimize network traffic are the most prominent factors that are propelling the market demand across the globe.
In addition, the increasing demand for high-speed, low-latency connectivity fueled by 5G and future iterations necessitates network intelligence and automation. As per Statista, the 5G wireless connection stood for USD 10 million in 2019 and is expected to grow to USD 1.01 billion by 2023. Also, the 5G network is expected to cover over 40% of world’s population by 2024 and global spending on 5G infrastructure is expected to be USD 2.3 billion in 2021. Thereby, the widespread deployment of 5G networks worldwide is a significant driver for the RAN Intelligent Controller Market owing to the growing need for intelligent controllers to manage and optimize network resources efficiently. Moreover, the rise in the shift towards network virtualization and cloud computing architectures, as well as the growing increasingly focus on optimizing network performance and improving operational efficiency presents various lucrative opportunities over the forecast years. However, the high integration cost and complexity and the rising concerns regarding standardization leading to interoperability across networks are hindering market growth throughout the forecast period of 2023-2030.
The key regions considered for the Global RAN Intelligent Controller Market study include Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific dominated the market in 2022 owing to the increasing smartphone adoption and the ongoing development of 5G infrastructure, coupled with the presence of key market players such as Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., ZTE Corporation and SAMSUNG. As per the GSM Association’s data as of May 2022, 14 countries in the Asia Pacific have already initiated commercial 5G services, with an additional ten countries expected to follow suit by the end of 2025. In March 2022, the Australian government announced the commencement of the second phase of the Australian 5G Innovation Initiative, allocating a USD 16.5 million grant to support businesses in testing and implementing 5G technology projects, thus facilitating technological advancement and innovation. Whereas, North America is expected to grow with a significant CAGR over the forecast years. The presence of advanced technological infrastructure with widespread internet and smartphone usage is significantly propelling the market demand across the region. Additionally, governmental initiatives in the region are poised to drive the expansion of the 5G and RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) Market. For instance, in April 2021, the Canadian government allocated USD 11.2 million in investment in Redline Communications, subsequently acquired by U.S.-based Aviat Networks, Inc., a prominent wireless technology company. This funding was directed towards the development of wireless technology catering to industries such as oil & gas, utilities, and mining, showcasing the government’s commitment to advancing technological solutions in key sectors.
Major market players included in this report are:
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
Nokia Corporation
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
ZTE Corporation
SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Juniper Networks, Inc.
Mavenir
Broadcom Inc
VIAVI Solutions Inc.
Recent Developments in the Market:
Ø In April 2023, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson unveiled two innovative O-RAN automation apps (rApps) designed to empower communications service providers in optimizing their operations and elevating network performance. The newly introduced applications, RAN Energy Cockpit and Ericsson RAN Energy Control represent a significant stride towards intelligent automation for telecom firms, prioritizing energy efficiency. Promising up to a 25% reduction in network energy consumption, these apps offer invaluable tools for enhancing operational sustainability and network effectiveness.
Ø In March 2023, Nokia and AT&T collaborated to test novel near real-time RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) xApps using the E2 interface. The company aimed to illustrate how near real-time RIC is used to enable RAN programmability through this collaboration.
Ø In October 2021, Juniper Networks, Inc., Intel Corporation, and Rakuten Symphony collaborated to introduce Symware, an innovative Open RAN solution engineered to modernize radio cell sites with cutting-edge cloud-native architecture. Symware represents a flexible edge appliance adhering to carrier-grade standards, empowering mobile network operators to enhance network density, accommodate diverse network topologies, and integrate new functionalities, all while reducing the hardware footprint required per site.
Global RAN Intelligent Controller Market Report Scope:
ü Historical Data – 2020 – 2021
ü Base Year for Estimation – 2022
ü Forecast period – 2023-2030
ü Report Coverage – Revenue forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth factors, and Trends
ü Segments Covered – Component, Function, Technology, Application, Region
ü Regional Scope – North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East & Africa
ü Customization Scope – Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analyst’s working hours) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope*
The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within countries involved in the study.
The report also caters detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, it also incorporates potential opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below:
By Component:
Platforms
Services
By Function:
Non-RT RIC (Non-Real-Time-RAN Intelligent Controller)
Near-RT RIC (Near-Real-Time-RAN Intelligent Controller)
By Technology:
4G
5G
By Application:
rApps
xApps
By Region:
North America
U.S.
Canada
Europe
UK
Germany
France
Spain
Italy
ROE
Asia Pacific
China
India
Japan
Australia
South Korea
RoAPAC
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa