Overview:

Evolved packet core (vEPC) is a software framework, used for providing converged voice and data on 4G long term evolution (LTE) network. Increasing smartphone penetration along with rapid growth in number of LTE subscribers has increased adoption of evolved packet core market worldwide. With continual growth anticipated in mobile internet users worldwide, virtualized EPC market is expected to continue witnessing incremental growth in the years to come.

Advanced security and improved subscribers management offered by evolved packet core makes it the most preferred solution for effective and secure LTE access. The market growth is highly driven by the consistent network infrastructure expansion across the globe. Flexibility and simplicity of operation along with intelligent traffic management for differentiated performance are few more factors responsible for rise in demand for evolved packet core.

Virtualized evolved packet core market is segmented by end-user into, telecom operators and Enterprises. Telecom operators face intense challenges including system upgrading to cater to the ever changing demand from customers along with intense competition. Currently, telecom sector is investing more in R&D to come up with more scalable and cost effective EPC solutions. This makes telecom operators segment to hold the largest market share in overall evolved packet core market.

Virtualized Evolved Packet Core market is also segmented by deployment model into cloud-based and on-premises. Large number of enterprises are rapidly adopting cloud computing resulting in higher revenue generation from cloud-based vEPC segment. However, comparatively high maintenance and initial costs hamper the market demand for on-premises vEPC deployment model. 

Virtualized Evolved Packet Core market is segmented by component into services and solution. Services segment is projected grow at highest rate owing recent upgradations in virtualized EPCs in telecom sectors. Whereas, solution segment is expected to continue dominating the vEPC market on account of growing demand for high speed data networks. 

North America is the regional leader, thereby hold largest market share in the global evolved packet core market during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. North America is one of the biggest virtualized EPC market owing to presence of big telecom giants in this region. Improved telecom sector is creating incremental demand for virtualized EPC to reduce overall capital and operational expenditure. Asia Pacific market is anticipated to show strategic growth rate in global vEPC market in following years. Telecom sectors in China, Japan and South Korea are some of the early adopters of virtualized evolved packet core which causes Asia Pacific vEPC market to grow.

Virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) Market is expected to witness promising growth over the forecast period owing to following factors:

• Rising popularity and demand for 4G network
• New services employing LTE or associated IMS network such as Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Video-over-LTE (ViLTE), and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi).
• Heavy investment by telecom sectors and enterprises into R&D
• Rapid growth in number of LTE subscribers
• Incremental growth in network infrastructure around the globe
• Reduction in capital and operational expenditure through vEPC

The global virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) market is segmented on the following basis:

• Deployment Model:
  • Cloud-based
  • On-premise
• Components:
  • Services
  • Solution
• Applications:
  • LTE
  • VoLTE & VoWiFi
  • BWA
  • IoT & M2M
  • MPN & MVNO
• End-user:
  • Telecom Operators
  • Enterprises
• Geography:
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Rest of North America
  • Europe
    • U.K.
    • Germany
    • France
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • South Asia
    • Rest of Asia Pacific
  • Rest of the World (RoW)
    • Latin America
    • Middle East & Africa (MEA)

Key players identified in virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) market include but are not limited to:

Ericsson AB, Nokia Corporation, ZTE Corporation, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Cisco Systems, Inc., Intel Corporation, NEC Corporation, Mavenir Systems, Inc., Affirmed Networks and ng4T GmbH among others.