A recent report on the core network market from Omdia reveals that communications service providers increased their investment in 5G packet core networks by 83% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2025. This surge highlights the strong momentum behind 5G Standalone deployments and a continued strategic focus on digital transformation and new revenue streams. North America and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region were the primary drivers of growth, with providers prioritizing network scalability, cost efficiency, and AI-driven network differentiation. Globally, 88 operators have now launched 5G SA networks, creating monetization opportunities through network slicing, ultra-reliable low-latency communication, and enterprise-focused services. Roberto Kompany, Principal Analyst for Mobile Infrastructure at Omdia, stated, "The sharp rise in 5G core investment underscores the strategic priority CSPs are placing on enabling new revenue streams and digital transformation. This trend is exemplified by AT&T's push for nationwide 5G SA and RedCap deployment, and Verizon's introduction of new enterprise-grade Fixed Wireless Access network slicing." The top five vendors by core network market share in Q4 2025 were Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE, and Cisco. Omdia anticipates that 5G core network investment will maintain double-digit growth in 2026, fueled by ongoing demand for nationwide coverage services and higher network capacity to meet evolving customer needs.