Private 5G is no longer confined to pilot zones—it’s advancing into production-grade implementation across industries, reshaping how enterprises operate. Research from SNS Telecom & IT forecasts that annual investments in private 5G networks will surpass $5 billion by 2028, growing at over 40% CAGR. Supporting this momentum, MarketsandMarkets estimates the sector at $3.86 billion in 2025, reaching $17.55 billion by 2030. Industry 4.0 Private 5G networks

This growth is grounded in real-world deployments by major industrial players. SNS reports case studies from Airbus to John Deere, Newmont, Tesla, Walmart, and Jaguar Land Rover—each leveraging private 5G for applications such as automation, remote machinery, AGVs, and real-time process optimization. Notable operational benefits include:

• Up to 90% improvements in process efficiency,
• 55% labor cost reduction in warehousing,
• 40% lower OPEX in logistics terminals,
• Substantial safety and environmental gains in oil refineries and mines.

Regional demand and policy shifts are further catalyzing adoption. In the U.S., the private 5G market is estimated at $4.64 billion in 2025, expected to reach $14.21 billion by 2030 at a 25.1% CAGR—driven by mid-band spectrum availability (e.g., CBRS), federal manufacturing incentives, and enterprise demand for ultra-reliable low-latency networks.

China remains the global frontrunner, rolling out private 5G across steel plants, automotive factories, and ports—often embedding 5G-Advanced features such as deterministic networking and time-sensitive communications. This state-driven scale gives China a lead that Europe and the U.S. are trying to match through spectrum liberalization and incentives.

On the supply side, the ecosystem is expanding rapidly. Traditional giants like Ericsson, Nokia, and Huawei are joined by emerging suppliers and Open RAN players such as Firecell (France), Accelleran (Belgium), and others—offering core, RAN, and orchestration platforms and tailored solutions that simplify deployment and management.

Interestingly, the story of private 5G’s rise echoes that of another connectivity disruptor: eSIM technology.

Private 5G and eSIM: Parallel but Distinct Connectivity Revolutions

Private 5G and eSIM technology started as niche solutions—private 5G in industrial pilots and eSIM in a handful of premium devices—and are now on paths toward mainstream adoption.

• Reliability as a catalyst: Private 5G gained traction once it proved superior to Wi-Fi in latency-sensitive, mission-critical environments. eSIM gained momentum once Apple, Samsung, and Google embedded it into smartphones and made remote provisioning practical for travelers and enterprises.
• Structural enablers: Private 5G depends on spectrum liberalization (e.g., CBRS in the U.S., local licenses in Germany). eSIM depends on device integration and GSMA standardization, which forced operators to adapt.
• Value beyond cost: Private 5G offers enterprises control, reliability, and security. eSIM offers consumers and businesses seamless activation, flexibility, and global coverage.
• Ecosystem growth: Private 5G relies on a diverse vendor ecosystem (Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, Firecell, Accelleran). eSIM relies on aggregators and platforms (Airalo, Airhub, KeepGo, Nomad) that simplify adoption.
• Growth trajectories: Private 5G is forecast to hit $5B by 2028 (SNS Telecom & IT). The eSIM market, meanwhile, is projected to surpass $16B by 2028 with over 3.4 billion devices enabled globally (GSMA Intelligence).
• The key difference lies in scope and audience: private 5G serves enterprises and industries with tailored infrastructure, while eSIM serves consumers and IoT at scale. Both, however, are driving the same trend: on-demand, seamless, and invisible connectivity.

Where private 5G rewires the infrastructure of enterprises, eSIM reshapes the end-user experience—together pushing toward a future of borderless, flexible, and invisible connectivity

Conclusion about Industry 4.0 & Private 5G networks

Private 5G is rapidly evolving from experimental setups into mission-critical industrial networks, driven by demonstrable ROI, regulatory support, and a maturing technology ecosystem. If this trajectory continues, it’s set to become a cornerstone of digital transformation.

Private 5G is set to anchor Industry 4.0, while eSIM ensures individuals and devices can tap into those networks with ease. Both are converging on the same vision: connectivity as a service, available anywhere, anytime.