Research Overview

In Asia-Pacific (APAC), 5G network slicing is still at an early stage because of limited 5G commercial launches. The standards for 5G end-to-end network slicing have only recently been completed in June 2021 and have been a bottleneck for the more promising use cases. The majority of mobile operators are planning to implement 5G network slicing by 2022, with commercialization from 2023. Slice-as-a-service (SlaaS), slated as a top revenue generator for mobile operators, is expected by 2025, if not earlier.

5G network slicing revenue in APAC is expected to grow from $2.88 billion in 2021 to $9.99 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 36.4%. Factors such as increasing demand for mobile network coverage, complying with public safety regulations, growing digital transformations, and rising smart Internet of Things (IoT) platforms are expected to contribute to 5G network slicing market growth.

By industry vertical, the healthcare industry, followed by the manufacturing industry, is the top vertical for 5G network slicing. Growth in the healthcare sector has been expedited because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The healthcare sector was spotlighted in 2020 and will continue to grow on the back of rapid telehealth developments in APAC. The top 3 countries in APAC that are expected to have significant growth in 5G network slicing over the next 5 years include China, South Korea, and Japan.