Dell'Oro Projects $35B Cumulative AI RAN Revenue by 2030 Amid Open RAN Integration
- July 1, 2026
- 3 mins
- Technology
- ai ran dell'oro gpu market forecast network intelligence open ran telecom
Dell’Oro Projects $35B Cumulative AI RAN Revenue by 2030 Amid Open RAN Integration
Market Forecast Overview
Dell’Oro Group has released its June 2026 AI RAN Advanced Research Report, projecting that cumulative AI RAN revenue will reach $35 billion over the next five years, spanning 2026 through 2030. This forecast positions AI RAN as a critical technology enabler for operators advancing virtualization, network intelligence, automation, and O-RAN (Open RAN) capabilities in their roadmaps, even as it is not expected to expand the overall RAN market size.
The analysis underscores a measured yet strategic evolution. AI RAN deployments in the near term will focus primarily on AI-for-RAN applications, single-purpose use cases, non-GPU architectures, traditional distributed RAN (D-RAN) setups, and 5G networks. These elements align closely with Open RAN principles of disaggregation and intelligence, allowing operators to layer AI-driven optimizations onto existing infrastructures without wholesale replacements.
Key Projections and Revisions
A notable upward revision in the report concerns GPU RAN. Dell’Oro now anticipates GPU-based RAN solutions to form a market exceeding $1 billion by the end of the forecast period. This reflects growing interest in GPU-accelerated baseband processing and AI-native optimizations that leverage high-performance computing for dynamic network tasks.
The base-case scenario assumes AI RAN enhancements will improve efficiency, performance, and energy savings within the existing RAN ecosystem rather than driving net new spending. Incumbent RAN suppliers—responsible for approximately 96% of 2025 RAN revenue across the top five vendors—are particularly well-positioned for initial AI RAN phases. Their advantage stems from AI-for-RAN upgrades that build on proven hardware platforms, facilitating smoother transitions toward more open and intelligent architectures.
Intersection with Open RAN and Broader Implications
The forecast explicitly ties AI RAN progress to Open RAN momentum. As operators incorporate greater O-RAN interfaces and RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) frameworks, AI/ML capabilities become essential for real-time decision-making, resource allocation, and multi-vendor interoperability. This synergy supports the shift from siloed, proprietary systems to programmable, AI-optimized networks capable of handling rising demands from AI-driven services.
For telecom executives and technologists, the implications are clear: AI RAN represents an incremental investment in intelligence rather than a market expander. It accelerates Open RAN adoption by demonstrating tangible value in automation and optimization, potentially lowering barriers for disaggregated deployments. GPU RAN’s projected growth further signals opportunities for specialized hardware in edge and cloud-native environments, complementing Open RAN’s emphasis on flexibility.
Analyst Perspective
From an industry analyst viewpoint, Dell’Oro’s numbers validate the maturation of AI in telecom. While early hype around AI-native networks has tempered into pragmatic roadmaps, the $35 billion cumulative figure—paired with GPU RAN’s upward trajectory—indicates sustained momentum. Operators prioritizing O-RAN and AI integration stand to gain competitive edges in efficiency and service agility, setting the stage for more advanced 6G preparations without disrupting current capital cycles.
This forecast arrives at a pivotal time, reinforcing that AI RAN’s value lies in enhancement and enablement. As deployments scale from pilots to production, the focus on incumbents’ hardware leverage and Open RAN compatibility will determine how quickly these projections materialize.