5G, 6G and private networks for digital industries: what shapes enterprise priorities, expectations and investment plans

During June–August 2025, GSMA Intelligence surveyed 5,320 enterprises on their digital transformation, focusing on objectives, investments, challenges, supplier decisions and enabling technology such as 5G, private networks, AI, IoT, cloud, edge, cybersecurity, network APIs and 6G. This report analyses the key findings and implications. The accompanying dashboard provides full survey data.

GSMA Intelligence surveyed 5,320 enterprises across 32 countries and 10 vertical sectors to gain relevant insights into their digital transformation. This dashboard provides full survey data in a consistent and structured way – a valuable asset for technology suppliers looking to focus on specific vertical sectors, countries or customer size and for end users of digital transformation technologies, who can assess how they compare with their peers across multiple areas.

To aid operators that are evaluating middle-mile transport solutions, GSMA Intelligence has developed the TCO Calculator, based on research and analysis of existing and emerging middle-mile transport solutions across a number of deployment scenarios around the world. The rapid expansion of 5G networks is driving an unprecedented surge in mobile data consumption, which is placing immense pressure on the middle mile. As a result, operators must diversify their product/solution mix for middle-mile transport.