Global WAN Services
WAN services are undergoing a transformation driven by cloud-centred architectures, virtualization, NaaS platforms, automation and AI integration to deliver more agile, flexible and future-proofed networks. This research helps I&O leaders select optimal global network service partners.
Market Definition
Gartner defines global WAN services as points-of-presence (POP)-based services supporting multiregional corporate networks. Service providers own and operate their own global core networks and sell directly to the client. Services include transport-centric/unmanaged, managed, and co-managed network services, or network as a service via a monthly fixed or usage-based fee model. These services are measurable and consumable through customer-facing web portals and programmable APIs.
As digital business initiatives place greater demands on the enterprise network, the need for reliable bandwidth continues to grow. Increasing cloud workloads and the rise in application-specific traffic are the main drivers for this heightened bandwidth requirement. These trends are adding pressure and a level of criticality to ensure optimal performance and unfailing support. Enterprises rely on global WAN services to deliver fixed global and regional wide-area networking connectivity. These services address enterprise challenges such as hybrid working practices, accelerating digital and cloud transformations, and improving enterprise network agility.
Global WAN services consist of backbone network transport and last-mile access connections, providing connectivity to individual enterprise sites such as large offices or remote branches. WAN service providers are also offering more transformational capabilities, such as cloud fabrics and enhanced visibility enabled by the underlay service network, and adding more network-based security functions to their offerings. Ancillary services such as cloud interconnects, managed SD-WAN and secure access service edge (SASE) are now commonly offered. Gartner also sees providers increasingly investing in AI and automation to support more service processes across the WAN service life cycle, from network design to service assurance.
Report 2026
Here is a summary of the vendors featured in the Gartner magic quadrant 2026 report.
For the full analysis and detailed insights, you can read the report
here
and view the magic quadrant graphic
here.
| Market Status | Market Vendor |
|---|---|
Leader |
NTT |
Leader |
AT&T |
Leader |
Tata Communications |
Leader |
Verizon |
Leader |
Orange Business |
Leader |
BT |
Leader |
Vodafone |
Visionary |
Colt |
Niche Player |
GTT Communications |
Niche Player |
Comcast Business |
Report 2025
Here is a summary of the vendors featured in the Gartner magic quadrant 2025 report.
For the full analysis and detailed insights, you can read the report
here
and view the magic quadrant graphic
here.
| Market Status | Market Vendor |
|---|---|
Leader |
Orange Business |
Leader |
AT&T |
Leader |
BT |
Leader |
Verizon |
Leader |
NTT |
Leader |
Vodafone |
Leader |
Tata Communications |
Niche Player |
GTT Communications |
Challenger |
Colt |
Report 2024
Here is a summary of the vendors featured in the Gartner magic quadrant 2024 report.
For the full analysis and detailed insights, you can read the report
here
and view the magic quadrant graphic
here.
| Market Status | Market Vendor |
|---|---|
Leader |
Orange Business |
Leader |
AT&T |
Leader |
Tata Communications |
Leader |
BT |
Leader |
NTT |
Leader |
Vodafone |
Leader |
Verizon |
Niche Player |
GTT Communications |
Niche Player |
RIEDEL Networks |
Challenger |
Colt Technology Services |
Challenger |
Deutsche Telekom |
Challenger |
Comcast Business |