The latest data from Dell'Oro Group indicates that the industry is emerging from several years of declining investment. While the first half of the year outperformed expectations, analysts suggest this does not alter the broader, more subdued outlook for the sector. Stefan Pongratz, Vice President at Dell'Oro Group, noted that operators have reached a stronger capacity position following completed 5G and fiber cycles, allowing them to shift focus toward modernization, automation, and operational efficiency.
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Global Telecom Spending Climbs Five Percent in Early 2026
A five percent year-over-year surge in global telecom capital expenditure during the first half of 2026 has defied earlier projections of a continued downturn. This unexpected uptick in spending, which mirrors a similar rise in equipment manufacturer revenues, signals a pivot as carriers move away from aggressive coverage expansion.
Despite the current momentum, the long-term forecast remains conservative. Worldwide telecom spending is projected to grow at a modest CAGR of 0 to 1 percent between 2025 and 2030. Capital intensity, which reached a high of 18 percent in 2022, is expected to retreat to 14 percent by 2028. This trend reflects a maturing investment landscape, though incremental demand from cloud providers is likely to keep equipment revenue growth slightly ahead of carrier spending through the end of the decade.
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