Telecoms startups surge on private 5G, Open RAN and network API tailwinds

A sector in flux, but with durable demand

Telecoms startups are finding fresh momentum in 2024–2025 as enterprises re-architect connectivity and operators seek more software-driven, modular networks. The macro backdrop remains mixed, but demand-side catalysts are hard to ignore: billions still lack reliable internet access and industry buyers want more programmable, secure, and cost-efficient infrastructure. The number of unconnected people stood at roughly 2.6 billion in 2023, according to ITU facts and figures, underscoring a long runway for access technologies and last-mile innovation.

On the technology curve, 5G is moving from consumer-centric rollouts to enterprise-grade use cases. Global subscriber and traffic growth are set to compound as 5G coverage and device penetration rise; by decade’s end, more than half of global mobile connections are expected to be 5G, GSMA’s Mobile Economy research shows. That shift is opening doors for startups across radio access virtualization, private networks, network observability, and managed services that deliver measurable ROI in factories, ports, and campuses.

Policy is amplifying the signal. In the United States, the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is moving from planning to deployment, creating procurement channels for fiber altnets, fixed wireless providers, and neutral-host models, according to the NTIA’s program hub. Similar stimulus in Europe and parts of Asia is helping smaller challengers compete for rural builds and enterprise connectivity projects. For more on related Telecoms developments.

Where the money and momentum are: private networks and Open RAN

The most visible traction is in private LTE/5G, where industrial buyers want deterministic coverage, low latency, and secure segmentation not feasible with legacy Wi‑Fi alone. Global deployments have shifted from pilots to production in logistics, mining, and advanced manufacturing. As of 2023, industry reports tracked well over a thousand private mobile network projects across scores of countries, with momentum continuing into 2024, data from analysts at GSA indicates. Startups such as Celona, Betacom, and Federated Wireless have carved out roles in turnkey delivery, spectrum brokerage, and lifecycle management, often partnering with established vendors for radios and cores.