CBRS-based private cellular networks are still attracting investment in the United States despite repeated proposals that could alter the shared-spectrum model behind them, according to SNS Telecom & IT’s latest private 5G research. The firm expects annual CBRS private-network investment to reach roughly $350 million in 2026, up from $302 million in 2025 and $252 million in 2024, Fierce Network reported.
CBRS uses the 3.55–3.7 GHz band under a tiered, spectrum-sharing framework rather than requiring every enterprise to buy exclusive nationwide spectrum licenses. That has made it a practical route for factories, airports, campuses, warehouses and utilities that need managed LTE or 5G coverage without depending solely on public carriers or Wi-Fi.
SNS says it tracks more than 1,200 CBRS private-cellular projects. The technology reportedly accounts for about 40% of total U.S. private-wireless spending, but nearly 80% of operational private networks by deployment count. The difference reflects CBRS’s role in smaller builds: many use one to 10 small cells and carry contract values below $100,000.
Larger rollouts are also becoming more common. SNS cited Cargill’s private 5G deployment across more than 65 facilities and Marathon Petroleum’s private LTE and 5G-ready infrastructure across 12 refinery sites. Miami-Dade County is expanding from a private network at Miami International Airport to smaller deployments at general-aviation airports, with surveillance and automated ground operations among the intended uses.
For Windows-heavy enterprise environments, those networks are largely infrastructure rather than an end-user replacement for Ethernet or Wi-Fi. But they can provide managed connectivity for rugged Windows tablets, industrial PCs, handheld terminals, cameras, sensors and vehicles where roaming, coverage control and device segmentation matter more than peak consumer-style throughput.
SNS research director Asad Kahn told Fierce that transaction activity across licensed and unlicensed private-network options is among the strongest seen since Priority Access Licenses became available. That suggests enterprises are continuing to make near-term purchases rather than freezing projects while the spectrum debate plays out.
Competition is also broader than when CBRS first launched, with Ericsson and specialists including Airspan, Celona, JMA, GXC, Druid Software, Cisco and HPE pursuing private-network opportunities.
SNS forecasts U.S. private-network infrastructure spending will exceed $1.5 billion annually by 2029, leaving IT teams planning industrial connectivity projects with a viable—though policy-sensitive—CBRS option to evaluate.
CBRS uses the 3.55–3.7 GHz band under a tiered, spectrum-sharing framework rather than requiring every enterprise to buy exclusive nationwide spectrum licenses. That has made it a practical route for factories, airports, campuses, warehouses and utilities that need managed LTE or 5G coverage without depending solely on public carriers or Wi-Fi.
More deployments, not just more spending
SNS says it tracks more than 1,200 CBRS private-cellular projects. The technology reportedly accounts for about 40% of total U.S. private-wireless spending, but nearly 80% of operational private networks by deployment count. The difference reflects CBRS’s role in smaller builds: many use one to 10 small cells and carry contract values below $100,000.Larger rollouts are also becoming more common. SNS cited Cargill’s private 5G deployment across more than 65 facilities and Marathon Petroleum’s private LTE and 5G-ready infrastructure across 12 refinery sites. Miami-Dade County is expanding from a private network at Miami International Airport to smaller deployments at general-aviation airports, with surveillance and automated ground operations among the intended uses.
For Windows-heavy enterprise environments, those networks are largely infrastructure rather than an end-user replacement for Ethernet or Wi-Fi. But they can provide managed connectivity for rugged Windows tablets, industrial PCs, handheld terminals, cameras, sensors and vehicles where roaming, coverage control and device segmentation matter more than peak consumer-style throughput.
Regulatory uncertainty remains
The positive deployment figures do not resolve CBRS’s policy risk. The framework has faced proposals to relocate its spectrum or increase power limits in the 3.5 GHz band—changes that could disrupt the coexistence rules, spectrum-access systems and installed equipment on which current deployments depend.SNS research director Asad Kahn told Fierce that transaction activity across licensed and unlicensed private-network options is among the strongest seen since Priority Access Licenses became available. That suggests enterprises are continuing to make near-term purchases rather than freezing projects while the spectrum debate plays out.
Nokia stays in the mix
Nokia, an early CBRS advocate, remains committed to existing private-network projects and is still pursuing new deals, including Hybar’s greenfield steel mill in Osceola, Arkansas, according to Kahn. Its activity is reportedly less aggressive than in previous years as Nokia reviews the future of its Enterprise Campus Edge business, with a decision expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.Competition is also broader than when CBRS first launched, with Ericsson and specialists including Airspan, Celona, JMA, GXC, Druid Software, Cisco and HPE pursuing private-network opportunities.
SNS forecasts U.S. private-network infrastructure spending will exceed $1.5 billion annually by 2029, leaving IT teams planning industrial connectivity projects with a viable—though policy-sensitive—CBRS option to evaluate.
References
- Primary source: Fierce Network
Published: 2026-07-13T16:13:10+00:00
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