Today’s telecom news includes announcements on RAN market size, Nokia China jobs, e& UAE, and others.
Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE and Samsung Control 96 Percent of Global RAN Market
The worldwide Radio Access Network market recorded its third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth in Q2 2026, signalling stabilisation after more than two years of contraction, according to Dell’Oro Group. The five largest RAN suppliers — Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE and Samsung — collectively accounted for 96 percent of global RAN revenue during the first half of 2026. Huawei delivered a particularly strong second quarter, while Ericsson’s performance was softer than expected. Despite the improvement, Dell’Oro continues to forecast broadly flat worldwide RAN revenue for full-year 2026. The report tracks 5G NR Sub-7 GHz, mmWave, LTE, Massive MIMO, small cells and Cloud RAN. The findings indicate that the industry’s post-5G coverage correction is easing, although recovery remains uneven across vendors and regions.
Nokia Plans Major Reduction of Mainland China Operations
Nokia plans to significantly reduce its operations in mainland China by the end of 2026, including closing nearly all of its sites and cutting a substantial portion of its workforce, according to a report cited by Reuters. Nokia confirmed that it is realigning its Chinese operations to better match its global business structure, citing a steady decline in its business in the country over recent years. The company has not disclosed the precise number of sites or employees affected or provided a detailed implementation timeline. The planned restructuring represents a major shift in Nokia’s regional footprint and comes as global telecom equipment suppliers reassess market conditions, operating structures and resource allocation across key international markets.
e& UAE Embeds Agentic AI Directly into Telecom Services e& UAE is integrating agentic artificial intelligence directly into its mobile and broadband offerings, moving beyond AI as a standalone add-on service. The operator is incorporating agentic capabilities into Business Pro fixed internet services and enterprise fixed-connectivity plans, while mobile customers can add the technology to existing packages. The move allows AI capabilities to become part of customers’ everyday connectivity environment rather than requiring separate solutions. e& UAE is positioning the initiative as a regional first for embedding agentic AI into core telecom services. The strategy reflects a broader shift among operators toward AI-enabled connectivity, with telecom companies increasingly seeking to combine network services, intelligent automation and enterprise applications to create higher-value products and strengthen differentiation.
SHAFANA FAZAL