To achieve their goals of ever-greater automation, speed and efficiency, telecom service providers know that they must transform from legacy systems to a new generation of cloud-based, AI-infused, API-enabled back office software. This is the market that Appledore characterises as “Network Automation Software”.

2024 saw some notable developments: no let-up in the interest and expectations for AI and GenAI in particular. Greater traction for autonomous networks as a North Star for telcos. Significant re-thinks on the telecom market by some major vendors. To what extent did these have a bearing on what – and who – forward-thinking telcos spent their money on in 2024?

Which vendors are having most success in attracting spend from CSPs? What drivers and trends have shaped spending through 2024? Despite all the noise and buzz, how has GenAI affected spending choices by telcos? Our annual NAS Market Share report answers these questions and more, across 6 market segments:

• Domain Management – software to manage distinct network domains such as RAN and transport.
• AIOps – software that helps telcos automate the assurance of services on their networks
• Network Data Management – software used to manage increasing volumes of complex network data
• Distributed Cloud Infrastructure Management – software that manages the lifecycle of telco cloud infrastructure and workloads
• Service Orchestration – software that drives the delivery and assurance of intent-based services
• Automated Service Testing and Root Cause Analysis (ASTRA) – software that increasingly forms part of the operational lifecycle of network functions to test, validate and analyze.

We also provide a regional breakdown of estimated market share for leading vendors across North America, Europe Middle East & Africa, APAC and Rest of World.