According to the findings, a remarkable 92% of telecom and networking organizations now rely on open source projects as part of their strategic roadmap. This widespread adoption underscores open source’s essential role in enabling scalability, flexibility, and interoperability in modern telecom infrastructures—especially as operators pursue Telco Cloud, network disaggregation, and advanced automation.
Cloud Native Networking Gains Ground
The shift toward cloud native networking is no longer just a trend—it’s becoming the norm. The report reveals that 73% of organizations have already integrated cloud native principles into live workloads. The drivers behind this momentum are clear: automation, orchestration, resiliency, and agility.
Yet, as deployment scales, so do the challenges. Respondents cited significant barriers including:
- Skills gaps (38%)
- Security and compliance concerns (37%)
- Licensing and legal risks (35%)
This highlights the urgent need for targeted upskilling and workforce readiness, especially as telecom operators look to modernize legacy infrastructure and compete in a software-defined ecosystem.
AI Integration Accelerates with Open Source
Open source is also fueling rapid adoption of domain-specific AI in telecom. The survey shows that 74% of organizations view open source as foundational to successful AI deployments in networks. This includes vital use cases such as:
- Network automation and orchestration (57%)
- Security and threat detection (50%)
- Predictive maintenance (41%)
The availability of open datasets, collaborative development, and AI frameworks is speeding up AI maturity across telecom domains—shaping a future of self-optimizing, intelligent networks.
OpenRAN: Poised for a Breakout
While OpenRAN adoption remains in its early stages today, it’s on the cusp of explosive growth. Industry projections show:
- A 200% increase in OpenRAN deployments in 2025
- A further 100% rise between 2026 and 2027
Much of this growth hinges on the successful integration of open source Centralized Units (CUs) and Distributed Units (DUs), which provide the modular, software-based alternatives needed for flexible RAN deployments.
What This Means for Telecom Leaders
The message is clear: open source is no longer optional—it’s a strategic imperative. From enabling cloud native infrastructures and AI-enhanced operations to transforming access networks with OpenRAN, open source technologies are reshaping how telecom providers build, scale, and manage modern networks.
As the industry charges forward, collaborative development, community-driven standards, and workforce readiness will be key to navigating this shift successfully.
