US enterprises are on track to pour roughly $350 million into private cellular networks using shared CBRS spectrum in 2026, a 16% jump over an estimated $302 million this year, according to new figures from research firm SNS Telecom & IT first reported by Fierce Network. That would push total private-network investment on the 3.55–3.7 GHz band to more than $900 million across a three-year span that began at $252 million in 2024—even as regulators keep floating proposals that could rewrite the spectrum-sharing rules underpinning those networks.
The numbers come from the 2026 edition of SNS’s private 5G report and database, which tracks over 1,200 CBRS-based projects. While about 40% of total U.S. private wireless spending flows through CBRS, the technology accounts for closer to 80% of all operational private networks by deployment count. The gap underscores a defining trait of the CBRS market: many sites are compact, containing one to ten small cells with contract values often below $100,000. Larger rollouts, however, are multiplying. Cargill now runs a private 5G network across more than 65 facilities, Marathon Petroleum has deployed LTE and 5G-ready infrastructure at 12 refinery sites, and Miami-Dade County is spinning out private networks from Miami International Airport to four general-aviation airports, with cruise terminals next in line.
For IT teams in Windows-heavy environments—factories, warehouses, transport hubs, campus facilities—the sustained CBRS momentum matters because it cements a connectivity layer purpose-built for devices that roam, need coverage across acres, or demand network segmentation that Wi-Fi struggles to deliver. Rugged Windows tablets on a loading dock, industrial PCs bolted to production machines, handheld terminals scanning inventory, body-worn cameras, and autonomous vehicles all benefit from a private LTE or 5G underlay that an enterprise can tune to its own requirements without relying solely on a public carrier.
The numbers that tell the story
SNS expects annual CBRS network investment in the U.S. to climb from $252 million in 2024 to roughly $350 million in 2026—a compound annual growth rate of about 18%. The firm also forecasts total U.S. private-network infrastructure spending crossing $1.5 billion per year by 2029 and worldwide private 5G expenditure exceeding $6.6 billion in the same timeframe.
The distinction between spending share and deployment count reflects the technology’s sweet spot. Large utility networks buried in sub‑1 GHz spectrum can carry contract values north of $30 million, but most CBRS projects are smaller, site-specific builds. SNS research director Asad Kahn told Fierce Network that transaction activity in both licensed Priority Access License (PAL) and unlicensed General Authorized Access (GAA) tiers is “at one of the highest levels” since PALs were first introduced.
| Year | CBRS Private Network Investment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $252 million |
| 2025 | $302 million (est.) |
| 2026 | $350 million (forecast) |
Deployment patterns are maturing. Instead of one-off proofs-of-concept, enterprises are scaling across dozens of sites. The Miami example illustrates a “domino effect,” as Kahn described it: a successful hub airport deployment spreads to smaller satellite airports and then to maritime terminals, with applications expanding from video surveillance to automated ground operations.
What this means for your Windows shop
CBRS networks are not a direct replacement for office Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet. They coexist alongside them, handling workloads where roaming, outdoor coverage, device density, and deterministic latency outweigh the need for gigabit consumer-style speeds. For Windows administrators and OT engineers, that translates into a handful of concrete scenarios:
- Industrial tablets and notebooks: A quality inspector walking a production line with a Windows rugged tablet stays connected across thousands of square feet without re-authenticating to different access points. The private network can pin the device to a specific slice of spectrum and prioritize its traffic so a real-time dashboard never drops.
- Fixed industrial PCs and HMIs: Machines bolted onto factory floors or oil platforms get managed connectivity that doesn’t compete with guest Wi‑Fi. IT can push Group Policy, software updates, or remote desktop connections over a predictable radio link.
- Cameras and sensors: High-definition video streams from a surveillance camera or lidar sensor on an automated guided vehicle feed into an on-premises Windows Server running analytics. CBRS delivers the consistent uplink those streams need, often at distances Wi‑Fi can’t reach.
- Handheld terminals and scanners: Warehouse workers with Windows‑based barcode scanners or voice headsets roam between aisles and loading bays. A private LTE/5G network handles seamless mobility far better than a mesh of Wi‑Fi access points.
Crucially, because CBRS operates on shared spectrum governed by a Spectrum Access System (SAS) database, an enterprise can deploy a private network without bidding on exclusive nationwide licenses—a cost barrier that once limited private cellular to utilities and carriers. The tiered model assigns incumbent federal users the highest priority, followed by PAL holders, and then everyone else in the GAA tier. For most commercial and industrial sites, GAA access is free and sufficient, provided the SAS can coordinate transmissions around radar and other incumbents.
The catch: that framework sits in regulatory crosshairs. Proposals to reconfigure the 3.5 GHz band—including moving CBRS spectrum entirely or boosting power limits in a way that could disrupt coexistence rules—keep surfacing. So far, nothing has stalled the market. “Spending continues,” Kahn said, and the pipeline of new projects suggests enterprises are making purchasing decisions based on what works now rather than what might change.
How we got here: a brief CBRS timeline
The Citizens Broadband Radio Service took its current shape in 2015 when the FCC adopted rules for the 3.55–3.70 GHz band. The goal was to unlock 150 MHz of mid‑band spectrum that had been underused by naval radar and satellite earth stations. After a years‑long rulemaking process—punctuated by industry fights over license sizes, renewal terms, and auction formats—the FCC held the first PAL auction in 2020, selling seven 10‑MHz licenses in each county for a total of roughly $4.6 billion.
Early deployments were small, often pilot networks in factories and warehouses. Then came a surge of interest driven by three forces: the global 5G hype cycle, a push from hyperscalers to connect IoT assets, and a growing realization that Wi‑Fi 6/6E alone couldn’t handle every industrial requirement. By 2023, companies like Celona, Airspan, and Nokia had simplified their offerings enough that a private‑cellular network could be ordered like an enterprise Wi‑Fi system—shipped in a box with a core, SIM cards, and a cloud dashboard.
Microsoft itself invested early, offering Azure Private 5G Core in 2021, though in 2024 it began winding down that product and shifting toward partnerships with operators and system integrators. The move reflected a broader recognition: private networks are channel‑led and depend on integrators who understand the factory floor, not just the data center.
Politically, CBRS has faced three waves of attack. First came a push to relocate the band to free up space for licensed mobile carriers. Then, in 2023, the Department of Defense raised concerns about interference with naval operations. Most recently, a faction within the FCC and Congress has floated power‑level increases that could allow higher‑powered base stations—beneficial for rural coverage, but risky for the delicate interference‑management rules that make spectrum sharing viable.
What to do now: steps for IT and OT teams
If your organization already uses or plans to deploy Windows devices in an industrial, logistics, or campus setting, now is the time to evaluate whether a CBRS private network could fill coverage gaps or reduce operational pain. The investment signals from SNS suggest the ecosystem is mature enough to act.
- Map your connectivity dead zones and mobility paths. Walk the site with a spectrum analyzer or just a tablet running a continuous ping test. Note where Wi‑Fi drops out, where roaming stalls, or where interference from neighboring networks causes jitter. Those are prime candidates for a private‑cellular overlay.
- Inventory your endpoints. Tally how many Windows tablets, PCs, handhelds, cameras, and sensors could benefit from managed connectivity. Check whether they support LTE Band 48—the 3.5 GHz CBRS band—or need external modems. Many modern rugged devices ship with this capability; older ones may require an aftermarket gateway.
- Engage a systems integrator with OT experience. Private networks aren’t one‑size‑fits‑all. A factory with automated guided vehicles needs different coverage modeling than a refinery with fixed sensors. Look for integrators who have done CBRS deployments with vendors like Celona, Nokia, or Cisco—and who understand how to connect a Windows domain controller to a private LTE core.
- Start small with a pilot. Because CBRS networks can be deployed with just a few small cells and a local core, run a proof‑of‑concept in one area—a single warehouse bay, a maintenance shop, an outdoor lot. Measure whether the network keeps a handful of Windows devices connected reliably under load, and use that data to build a business case.
- Factor regulatory risk into your procurement timeline, not your stoplight. No one knows whether the FCC will eventually modify CBRS rules, but the installed base is already large and politically vocal. Build a contingency clause into contracts that allows a technology refresh or spectrum migration if rules change materially, but don’t let the uncertainty freeze a project that can deliver value now.
- Watch Nokia’s next move. The vendor remains a key CBRS supplier—it’s pursuing the Hybar greenfield steel mill in Arkansas and continues to support existing customers. However, it is reviewing its Enterprise Campus Edge business unit and expects a decision in the fourth quarter of 2026. If you’re evaluating a Nokia‑based network, clarify what ongoing support and roadmap commitments accompany any deal.
The competitive landscape
While Nokia was an early CBRS champion, other players have crowded in. Ericsson now competes directly in private‑cellular radio and core. Specialists include Celona (focused on plug‑and‑play 5G LANs), Airspan (small cells), JMA Wireless (in‑building coverage), Druid Software (core network), and newer entrants like GXC, Firecell, and Pente. Cisco and HPE offer edge‑to‑core integration and, in some cases, partner directly with Nokia. This diversity means IT buyers can shop for solutions that match their existing infrastructure—Cisco‑heavy shops can lean on Cisco private 5G; Dell‑centric environments may find a fit with Airspan or Celona.
Kahn notes that “some core vendors … have also partnered with Nokia on select projects,” suggesting the market is still fluid enough that bundling and co‑selling are common.
Outlook
SNS expects U.S. private‑network infrastructure spending to climb past $1.5 billion annually by 2029, with CBRS continuing to capture roughly four in ten dollars spent. Worldwide, private 5G spending could surpass $6.6 billion by the same year, driven by industrial physical AI, automation, and defense applications. For Windows‑heavy organizations, that means the private‑cellular option won’t fade—it will become a standard utility like Wi‑Fi in environments that demand more than Wi‑Fi alone can deliver.
Regulatory noise will persist, but the sheer volume of deployed networks—more than 1,200 projects and growing—creates a constituency with enough political weight to resist wholesale disruption. As Kahn told Fierce, transaction activity hasn’t slowed. The next milestone to watch is the FCC’s handling of 3.5 GHz power‑limit proposals, which could either expand the market footprint or trigger a protracted rules fight. For now, enterprises are voting with their wallets, and the tally is tilting toward CBRS.