Network automation market seen reaching $162.6B by 2035

The network automation market is projected to rise from $34.7 billion in 2025 to nearly $162.6 billion by 2035, driven by cloud adoption, 5G, AI, and rising network complexity. Market Research Future says the shift could reshape how enterprises manage connectivity, security, and operations across industries and regions.

Why it matters: - Enterprise networks are getting harder to run as cloud computing, hybrid work, 5G, and IoT add more devices, workloads, and traffic. - Network automation is becoming a core tool for reducing manual work, lowering operating costs, and improving network reliability and service speed. - The market’s projected growth signals rising demand for software that can manage increasingly distributed and security-sensitive infrastructure.

What happened: - Market Research Future said the network automation market was valued at about $34.70 billion in 2025. - The market is projected to reach $40.48 billion in 2026 and nearly $162.60 billion by 2035. - That forecast implies a 16.70% compound annual growth rate from 2026 to 2035. - The report was published July 1, 2026. - More information is available in the sample PDF of the report and the in-depth market research report.

The details: - Network automation uses software, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and programmable technologies to handle configuration, provisioning, monitoring, optimization, and troubleshooting. - The technology is designed to improve reliability, cut operational costs, reduce human error, and speed up service delivery. - Demand is rising for software-defined networking, network function virtualization, cloud-native infrastructure, and intent-based networking. - Telecommunications, banking, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and government are among the key adopter industries. - The report breaks the market down by component, deployment mode, technology, network type, enterprise size, and end-user industry. - Deployment options include cloud-based, on-premises, and hybrid models. - Technologies covered include AI, ML, SDN, NFV, and intent-based networking. - End-user categories include telecommunications, BFSI, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, retail and e-commerce, government, and energy and utilities.

Between the lines: - The strongest growth driver is network complexity, with organizations managing thousands of connected devices, cloud apps, edge environments, and remote users. - Cloud computing and hybrid IT are pushing buyers toward automation that can manage multi-cloud and virtualized networks at scale. - 5G is adding urgency because next-generation networks need real-time orchestration and automated optimization. - AI and machine learning are shifting network automation from basic management toward predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, automated security response, and self-healing systems. - The market still faces friction from legacy system integration, cybersecurity concerns, interoperability issues, and skill shortages. - North America holds a significant share because of advanced IT infrastructure and strong digital-transformation spending. - Asia-Pacific is expected to grow the fastest, supported by 5G buildout, cloud adoption, and smart infrastructure spending.

What's next: - Vendors are expected to keep building cloud-native and API-driven platforms that plug into DevOps and infrastructure-as-code workflows. - Partnerships between telecom providers, cloud companies, and enterprise software vendors are likely to expand as buyers want unified automation, orchestration, security, and monitoring tools. - Zero-trust security, edge computing, and SD-WAN adoption should add to demand during the forecast period. - Companies that can deliver scalable, secure, intelligent automation platforms are positioned to gain share as enterprise networks continue to evolve.

The bottom line: - Network automation is moving from an efficiency upgrade to a strategic requirement for managing modern enterprise networks.