Asia-Pacific’s Private Cellular Market Dominance

The Asia-Pacific region stands as the global leader in private cellular adoption, driven by strong industrial demand and technological advancements. ABI Research forecasts that private network revenue in the region will surge from US$6 billion in 2024 to US$48.1 billion by 2030. While 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) continues to dominate deployments, 5G adoption is accelerating for more sophisticated use cases, particularly in industries requiring ultra-reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity.

Market Growth Fueled by Industrial Demand and Government Initiatives

Developed countries in the region—Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea—are at the forefront of private cellular adoption. ABI Research projects that private network revenue will climb within these markets alone from US$5 billion in 2024 to US$40.2 billion in 2030. Market dominance in Asia-Pacific stems from strong vendor innovation, government-backed initiatives like China’s “Set Sail” program, and ongoing infrastructure advancements.

The manufacturing and energy sectors are the primary drivers of this growth. By 2030, these verticals will generate US$26.9 billion—56% of the total private cellular market. The logistics and healthcare industries will also be significant sources of revenue for private cellular.

Over the years, Asia-Pacific has become a global manufacturing hub due to cheap labor costs. This is especially true in China and India, and offshoring projects are now positioning Southeast Asia as a new hub. Enterprises must have fast, reliable wireless connectivity to support automation, supply chain efficiency, and operational scaling. Likewise, industries such as mining and energy generation rely on private LTE and 5G networks to maintain seamless operations in remote or challenging environments.

4G LTE Dominates, While 5G Gains Traction

ABI Research anticipates that private 5G will increase its share of total cellular deployments in Asia-Pacific from 22% in 2024 to 41% by 2030. This will translate into a US$19.6 billion opportunity for the telecommunications industry. Despite the push toward 5G, 4G/LTE remains the foundation of private cellular networks in the region. Our analysts forecast LTE-based private network revenue to increase from US$4.7 billion in 2024 to US$28.4 billion by 2030.

LTE’s reliability, affordability, and established ecosystem make it the preferred choice for industrial deployments today and in the near future. Meanwhile, 5G adoption continues to build momentum for advanced automation and high-bandwidth applications.

Although the adoption of private cellular networks is accelerating across the Asia-Pacific, developing countries are still facing challenges. Many firms view private cellular as complex or cost-prohibitive. To drive wider adoption, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) must offer scalable and flexible solutions associated with minimal risk. The as-a-Service model, combined with complementary hardware and software, will be critical to easing deployment and making private cellular networks more accessible across the region.

Download ABI Research’s Private Cellular Market Forecast

Asia-Pacific’s private cellular market is on a strong growth trajectory, led by industrial demand and strategic investments. For a deeper look into market trends, revenue forecasts, and key deployment strategies, download ABI Research’s latest private cellular market forecast.