Evolved Packet Core (EPC) market revenue grew four percent quarter-over-quarter in 2Q 2018. The growth is being fueled by the usual growth in LTE subscriber growth, data traffic growth driven by video, and the beginning stages of the migration to 5G, according to Dell’Oro Group.
“In spite of the U.S. ban on ZTE, the EPC market revenue grew in 2Q 2018,” according to David Bolan, Senior Analyst at Dell’Oro Group. “Ericsson, Huawei, and Nokia increased their share in the quarter with quarter-over-quarter growth rates exceeding the average four percent. Most of the service providers launching their 5G networks at the end of 2018 and into 2019 will upgrade their EPC rather than invest in a new 5G core,” continued Bolan.
Ericsson’s and Huawei’s combined market shares increased to over 60 percent. “Huawei gained the most share in the Asia Pacific region with over twice the share of Nokia or Ericsson who ranked second and third, respectively. However, the North America market is where most of the activity has been in preparing the EPC for 5G launches for as early as the end of 2018,” said Bolan.
In 2Q 2018 the Asia-Pacific region had the largest share of EPC session shipments followed by Europe, Middle East, and Africa, North America, and Latin America.
