BELMONT, CA — May 26, 2026 — Exact Ventures recently published its Subscriber Data Management (SDM/HSS) Market Share and Total Market Analysis for 1Q 2026.

The total SDM network function market — spanning legacy HSS and 5G-native SDM (UDM, AUSF, UDR) — saw a typical seasonal pullback in 1Q26 following a strong close to 2025. The underlying trend remains firmly in operators’ favor for 5G SDM: even amid the sequential softness, 5G SDM revenue grew year-over-year and now represents the clear majority of total SDM spending, while legacy HSS continues to shrink as a share of the market. As the chart below illustrates, this shift has been building steadily since 2024 and is expected to continue through the forecast period.

That shift reflects a broader pattern across 2025: total SDM market growth was driven primarily by subscriber license shipment growth, with 5G expansions significantly outpacing HSS replacement activity. As operators continue building out 5G SA networks, subscriber data management is increasingly anchored in UDM, AUSF, and UDR functions rather than legacy HSS — a transition we expect to continue shaping vendor positioning through 2026 and beyond.

Which vendors are best capturing the shift from HSS to 5G-native SDM, and how is license shipment growth translating into vendor share gains? Our 1Q26 report breaks down vendor-by-vendor share across HSS and 5G SDM (UDM/AUSF/UDR), by region, along with a full 5-year forecast through 2030.

For more information or to request the full report, contact:
Greg Collins
Exact Ventures
greg@exactventures.com