IP/MPLS market seen reaching $51.62 billion by 2030

The Internet Protocol and Multiprotocol Label Switching market is projected to grow from $37.05 billion in 2025 to $51.62 billion by 2030, driven by demand for faster, more secure data transmission, 5G transport, cloud interconnectivity and software-defined networking. North America led the market in 2025, while Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region.

Why it matters: - IP/MPLS is becoming more important as enterprises and telecom operators need faster, more secure and more reliable data transmission. - The market’s growth reflects rising demand for high-speed networks that can handle cloud computing, real-time analytics and other bandwidth-heavy workloads. - The technology is tied to network upgrades that affect enterprise connectivity, broadband performance and service-provider infrastructure.

What happened: - The Business Research Company said the IP/MPLS market is expected to rise from $37.05 billion in 2025 to $39.52 billion in 2026, a 6.7% CAGR. - The firm forecast the market will reach $51.62 billion by 2030, growing at a 6.9% CAGR. - The report was published Oct. 7, 2026. - Download a free sample of the report. - View the full report.

The details: - Growth in the recent period was driven by WAN expansion, secure data transfer needs, telecom network upgrades, broader broadband access and higher internet penetration. - MPLS traffic prioritization also supported market expansion. - The forecast period is expected to be shaped by 5G transport networks, cloud interconnectivity, software-defined networking, data center interconnect infrastructure and demand for scalable network architectures. - Other expected trends include wider use of MPLS-based virtual private networks for secure enterprise connectivity. - The report also points to rising demand for WAN infrastructure with low latency and high reliability. - Hybrid networks that combine IP and MPLS are expected to be deployed more widely. - Traffic engineering for bandwidth optimization and network management software for monitoring and automation are expected to gain traction. - IP combined with MPLS supports traffic engineering, quality of service and secure virtual private networks for optimized bandwidth use, lower latency and dependable communication. - In September 2023, the UK Office of Communications reported median broadband download speed in the UK reached 69.4 Mbps, up from about 59 Mbps the year before. - UK median upload speed rose to 18.4 Mbps in the same period.

Between the lines: - The market outlook suggests network operators are moving toward architectures that balance speed, security and traffic control rather than relying on pure throughput alone. - The emphasis on SDN, hybrid networks and network management software points to growing pressure for more flexible and automated infrastructure. - North America’s lead in 2025 suggests early adoption and mature networking investment, while Asia-Pacific’s growth outlook indicates the next wave of demand may come from scaling digital infrastructure.

What's next: - The report expects continued adoption of IP/MPLS in enterprise and carrier networks as 5G and cloud interconnect requirements expand. - Asia-Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing regional market during the forecast period. - The Business Research Company said its 2026 reports include market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrices, Excel forecasting dashboards and market hotspot infographics.

The bottom line: - IP/MPLS remains a core networking market, and the next phase of growth is likely to come from operators that need secure, low-latency and scalable transport for modern digital traffic.