Telecom Capex 2026: 25 Major Operators Investing Billions in 5G, Fiber, AI and Data Centers

Global telecom capital expenditure increased 5 percent in the first half of 2026, driven by investments in 5G networks, fiber broadband, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and data centers. Major Operator Investment Plans 2026 According to Dell’Oro Group’s telecom capex assessment , global telecom equipment revenue also increased approximately 5 percent. MTN Consulting reported that 145 telecom operators invested $72.9 billion in Q2 2026, representing 7.2 percent annual growth.