Dell’Oro Group forecasts at least two more years of growth in point-to-point microwave transmission equipment, driven by continued 5G network expansion and rising global coverage.
In a press release tied to its “Microwave Transmission & Mobile Backhaul 5-Year Forecast July 2026” report, the market research firm said demand is expected to weaken after the current growth phase, before returning later in the next decade as 6G deployment begins to influence backhaul investment cycles.
“We anticipate at least two more years of growth for point-to-point microwave transmission equipment,” said Jimmy Yu, vice president at Dell’Oro Group. “This growth will be primarily driven by the ongoing expansion of 5G networks, as global coverage increases. After this period, demand for mobile backhaul equipment is likely set to decline until 6G mobile radio deployments enter the picture.”
Yu added that the firm expects early 6G backhaul growth to be concentrated in fibre-based systems, before microwave demand rises again later in the cycle.
In its forecast highlights, Dell’Oro said fibre/copper systems are expected to remain the dominant approach for mobile backhaul over the forecast period, but wireless backhaul share is projected to rise over the next four years due to 5G expansion in regions that rely more on point-to-point microwave connectivity. The firm expects that trend to reverse by 2030 as initial 6G deployments favour cell sites equipped with fibre-based systems.
Dell’Oro also forecast that microwave transmission revenue associated with 5G will grow through 2028 at an average annual rate of 12 percent, then decline for at least three years, with a return to growth expected in 2032.
The report further noted demand for E/V Band systems is forecast to increase due to higher backhaul capacity requirements for 5G and 5G Advanced, with E/V Band shipments expected to grow at a five-year compound annual growth rate of 16 percent.
