The global rollout of the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks, known as 5G, began in 2019 and is expanding rapidly within the US. This trend will be a boon for the $2.4 billion US conduit pipe market, according to a new study by Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com.
As noted by the researcher:
Unlike many other industrial sectors, which have seen dramatic declines in commercial investment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telcos around the world actually ramped up 5G expansion efforts in 2020 as the world went into lockdown, and flooded the internet. Though China is currently leading the rest of the world in 5G, according to Swedish networking firm Ericsson, 60% of the global population could be covered by 5G by 2026. [Meanwhile] both AT&T and Verizon significantly scaled up their 5G coverage in the US during the pandemic [and] Apple recently released a 5G phone, a key development expected to bolster network expansion.
The study points out that, as 5G infrastructure requires the installation of thousands of miles of new fiber-optic cabling, and fiber-optic cables are more sensitive to moisture and mechanical stress than coaxial cables, conduit is used to meet the greater protective need. According to Freedonia Group, US demand for conduit pipe is forecast to rise 2.3% per year to $2.6 billion in 2024.
The firm's new Conduit Pipe study analyzes the US conduit pipe industry. The report charts historical data for 2009, 2014, and 2019, and forecasts for the years 2024 and 2029 for competitive pipe materials including steel, plastic and aluminum. Data is also provided for types of plastic pipe including: PVC; HDPE; fiberglass; and other resins, including polypropylene, polyamide, and LDPE. All demand data in the report reflects apparent consumption (production plus imports minus exports) and are given in dollars, pounds, and linear feet.
Established in 1985, the Freedonia Group is an international industrial research company publishing more than 100 studies annually, serving customers ranging in size from global conglomerates to one-person consulting firms. The researcher contends that more than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia Group research to help with their strategic planning. Studies can be purchased at www.freedoniagroup.com, and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.
