Carrier Ethernet market seen reaching $85B by 2030

The Business Research Company says the Carrier Ethernet market will grow from $63.17 billion in 2025 to $66.92 billion in 2026, then climb to $85 billion by 2030. The forecast points to 5G, edge computing, cloud networking and enterprise demand as the main growth drivers.

Why it matters: - Carrier Ethernet is becoming core infrastructure for enterprise networks, mobile backhaul and cloud services as operators look for higher-speed, scalable connectivity. - The market's projected growth signals rising demand for low-latency, carrier-grade networks that can support 5G, edge computing and data center traffic.

What happened: - The Business Research Company released a new Carrier Ethernet market report covering 2026-2035. - The report pegs the market at $63.17 billion in 2025 and $66.92 billion in 2026. - The report forecasts the market will reach $85 billion by 2030. - The forecast implies a 5.9% CAGR from 2025 to 2026 and a 6.2% CAGR through 2030.

The details: - The report links near-term growth to higher demand for high-speed connectivity in enterprise environments. - Metro Ethernet network expansion in urban areas is another cited driver. - Broader broadband adoption is supporting demand for Carrier Ethernet services. - Data center interconnectivity needs are also contributing to growth. - Carrier-grade Ethernet standards continue to mature, supporting wider deployment. - The report says the 2030 outlook is being driven by 5G and edge computing deployments, cloud-native Ethernet connectivity, network virtualization and automation, hyperscale data center growth and demand for secure wide area networks. - Key trends include software-defined networking, network slicing for dedicated enterprise connectivity, ultra-low-latency Ethernet services, 5G backhaul upgrades and deeper use of network function virtualization. - Carrier Ethernet provides standardized Ethernet-based services across metropolitan, regional and global telecom networks. - The technology supports scalable connectivity for enterprises, mobile backhaul and cloud services. - Its capabilities include quality of service, traffic management and network virtualization. - The report includes a free sample and the full report.

Between the lines: - 5G adoption is a major demand engine because mobile networks need stronger backhaul to move more data with lower latency. - The report cites OECD data showing 5G subscriptions rose 48% year over year in May 2025 across OECD countries. - Those subscriptions accounted for 33% of all mobile subscriptions in OECD countries. - Asia-Pacific was the largest regional market in 2025, supported by urbanization and digital infrastructure investment. - North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. - The regional scope also includes South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

What's next: - Carrier Ethernet growth will likely track continued 5G rollout, edge deployment and enterprise networking upgrades. - Vendors and operators are expected to keep investing in automation, virtualization and low-latency service offerings as competition intensifies.

The bottom line: - Carrier Ethernet is shifting from a utility network layer to a growth market tied to 5G, cloud and enterprise demand.