Dublin, Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Edge Computing Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031F"report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The Global Edge Computing Market is anticipated to expand significantly, rising from USD 31.25 billion in 2025 to USD 198.96 billion by 2031, reflecting a robust CAGR of 36.14%. This decentralized IT framework processes data locally near its source instead of routing it to distant cloud centers. Market growth is primarily fueled by the critical need for real-time data processing and the widespread rollout of mobile networks, which inherently require minimal latency. These foundational elements act as essential operational necessities for today's businesses rather than mere technological fads. Supporting this shift, the GSMA reported that in 2025, over 60% of telecommunications providers worldwide actively incorporated edge computing into their network modernization strategies.
Even with such strong growth prospects, the market must navigate serious cybersecurity threats. Moving data processing away from a central hub introduces numerous access points across widely scattered hardware, which complicates the enforcement of consistent security measures. This extensive physical dispersion broadens the potential attack surface for security breaches, presenting a major hurdle that could hinder the continued growth of the global edge computing sector.
Market Driver
The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things and other connected devices generates massive amounts of local data, overwhelming traditional centralized cloud systems. Because industrial sensors and autonomous technologies constantly transmit telemetry, data must be processed near its source to minimize delays. Such localized intelligence is vital for sustaining the growth of today's interconnected environments. Highlighting this trend, an Inside Towers article from December 2025 titled "Global 5G Connections Hit 2.8 Billion as North America Leads in Adoption" projects that global IoT subscriptions will reach five billion by 2030. As the concentration of these devices grows, companies increasingly depend on edge computing to avoid network congestion.
Furthermore, the swift rollout of 5G networks provides the essential connectivity required for advanced edge applications to function seamlessly. These fifth-generation networks deliver the ultra-low latency and extensive device capacity necessary for distributed computing systems. A September 2025 report from 5G Americas, "North America Sets Global Pace as 5G Growth Hits 2.6 Billion Connections Worldwide," noted that global 5G connections exceeded 2.6 billion in the second quarter of that year. This growing infrastructure changes enterprise workload management by enabling instant data analysis across various locations. Additionally, Robustel noted in 2026 that organizations generally achieve an 80% decrease in data backhaul expenses by only sending critical, actionable events from the edge.
Market Challenge
Edge computing's decentralized structure introduces notable cybersecurity weaknesses that actively hinder the market's growth. By processing information across geographically scattered hardware, organizations unintentionally increase the number of potential access points into their networks. This expansive physical layout enlarges the attack surface, complicating efforts to enforce standardized security measures across all nodes. As a result, cybercriminals gain more chances to compromise remote endpoints, which typically do not possess the robust security safeguards standard in centralized data facilities.
Facing this disjointed security environment, companies often pause before expanding their edge networks, effectively decelerating broader market progress. Overseeing a multitude of dispersed devices introduces significant administrative challenges and drives up operational expenses. For instance, the Cloud Security Alliance reported in 2025 that roughly 33% of enterprises did not have proper tools for data visibility, resulting in dangerous blind spots that weaken proactive threat mitigation. Unable to guarantee uniform security throughout their decentralized frameworks, businesses often postpone or reduce their investments, thereby limiting the overall expansion rate of the global edge computing sector.
Market Trends
The integration of artificial intelligence with edge computing relocates data processing straight to localized devices, significantly accelerating response times. Businesses are increasingly utilizing specialized models to empower autonomous systems with real-time decision-making capabilities, avoiding the delays associated with centralized servers. In a January 2026 article titled "The Power of Small Edge AI Predictions for 2026," Dell revealed that 75% of enterprise-managed data is currently generated and handled away from conventional data centers. Processing such a massive amount of decentralized data locally is crucial for producing instant analytics while still adhering to energy conservation benchmarks.
Additionally, the rise of micro data centers is transforming traditional computing frameworks by breaking down massive, centralized facilities into smaller, strategically placed modular units. These regional setups supply specialized processing capabilities necessary for tasks that demand rigorous regulatory adherence and local data sovereignty. A March 2026 Megaport article, "How the Data Center is Evolving in 2026," stated that routing and edge services experienced a 42% year-over-year increase in 2025. This swift growth in distributed network offerings is heavily accelerating the adoption of micro data centers, which fulfill localized processing needs and maintain critical infrastructure flexibility.
Key Market Players
. Cisco Systems Inc.
. Microsoft Corporation
. International Business Machines Corporation
. Instant Data Centers
. Fujitsu Limited
. Amazon Web Services
. Nokia Corporation
. AT&T Inc.
. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
. Johnson Controls International plc
Report Scope
In this report, the Global Edge Computing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends detailed below:
Edge Computing Market, By Deployment:
. On-Premises
. Cloud
Edge Computing Market, By Component:
. Hardware
. Software
. Services
. Edge-managed Platforms
Edge Computing Market, By Organization Size:
. Large Enterprises
. Small & Medium Enterprises
Edge Computing Market, By Application:
. IoT
. Remote Monitoring
. Content Delivery
. Video Analytics
. AR/VR
. Others
Edge Computing Market, By Industry Vertical:
. Industrial
. Energy & Utility
. Healthcare
. Agriculture
. Transportation & Logistics
. Retail
. Data Centers
. Wearables
. Smart Cities
. Homes & Buildings
Edge Computing Market, By Region:
. North America
. Europe
. Asia Pacific
. South America
. Middle East & Africa
Key Attributes:
| Report Attribute | Details |
| No. of Pages | 185 |
| Forecast Period | 2025 - 2031 |
| Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 | $31.25 Billion |
| Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2031 | $198.96 Billion |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate | 36.1% |
| Regions Covered | Global |
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/n61xmx
About ResearchAndMarkets.com
ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
