Resolving the private networks monetisation challenge

Despite progress being slower than initially expected, major network operators and vendors grew their private networks business in 2023 and have accelerated commercial launches. According to a GSMA Intelligence survey, almost all operators plan to have launched commerical private 5G network solutions by the end of 2026. However, at the moment, a significant portion of operators state they are facing challenges with the monetisation of private networks. For their 2026 ambitions to materialise, operators will have to prove the business case within the next couple of years and resolve the challenge of monetisation as soon as possible. In this report, we examine the possible paths of monetisation in private networks for operators and how they can overcome the associated challenges.