Rich Communication Services (RCS) Market Report 2025

The rich communication services (RCS) market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $7.5 billion in 2024 to $10.14 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to shift from sms to rich media, smartphone proliferation, mobile internet accessibility, consumer demand for enhanced messaging, collaboration between mobile operators.

The rich communication services (RCS) market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $34.39 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to 5g network rollout, increased focus on customer engagement, integration with chatbots and ai, rise of conversational commerce, global expansion of rcs ecosystem. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in mobile network technologies, integration with business communication, carrier partnerships and rcs rollouts, multichannel communication platforms.

The anticipated growth of the rich communication services (RCS) market is closely tied to the increasing adoption of mobile service subscribers. Mobile service subscribers, comprising individuals or businesses subscribing to mobile phone services from operators, benefit from a range of services, including voice calls, text messaging, and data services on their mobile devices. The appeal of RCS lies in its capacity to enhance the messaging experience by offering a more engaging, interactive, and feature-rich platform compared to traditional SMS texting. For example, data from the UK's Office of Communications in February 2023 revealed that the total number of active mobile subscribers in the UK reached 83.25 million by March 2022, marking a 2% increase since March 2021. Consequently, the upward trajectory in mobile service subscriber adoption is a key driver for the growth of the RCS market.

Government initiatives in telecommunications are expected to drive the growth of the rich communication services (RCS) market in the future. These initiatives encompass actions or programs implemented by governments to tackle specific issues, promote certain objectives, or execute policies aimed at enhancing societal welfare, economic development, public services, or the overall well-being of citizens. Such governmental support can create the necessary framework, resources, and incentives to advance RCS, making it more accessible, secure, and attractive to users across various segments of society. For instance, in October 2023, data from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, provided by UK Research and Innovation - a UK government agency - revealed that in 2023, the UK government allocated £70 million to the Future Telecoms UKRI Technology Missions Fund (TMF) program to support the development of next-generation telecommunications technology in the UK. Therefore, the increase in government initiatives for telecommunications is driving the growth of the rich communication services (RCS) market.

The rich communication services (RCS) market is witnessing a prominent trend of technological advancement, with companies strategically adopting new technologies to maintain and enhance their market positions. An illustrative example of this trend is evident in the actions of Kirusa, a US-based communication solutions provider, which introduced the RichOTP service in September 2022. This innovative service enables companies to securely send OTPs (One-Time Passwords) to customers' mobile devices through messaging apps, offering a more reliable and secure alternative to traditional SMS messaging. RichOTP streamlines the delivery of OTPs, crucial for secure transactions and account verification, showcasing the market's focus on leveraging technological advancements for improved functionality.

Partnerships have become a key strategy for major companies operating in the rich communication services market, aiming to gain a competitive edge. These collaborations foster synergy by allowing companies to combine strengths and resources, resulting in more comprehensive, user-friendly, and competitive offerings within the rich communication services sector. A notable instance is the expanded partnership between Deutsche Telekom, a Germany-based telecommunications company, and Google, a US-based technology company, announced in February 2022. This strategic alliance enables German businesses to leverage Google's cloud technology while ensuring data sovereignty within Germany. The collaboration aims to develop more secure, reliable, and scalable cloud-native networks, exemplifying the significance of partnerships in enhancing market positions.

In April 2023, Quebecor Inc., a Canada-based wired telecommunications carrier operating in the media, telecommunications, and sports and entertainment sectors, acquired Freedom Mobile for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to establish a robust fourth wireless provider in Canada, thereby enhancing competition and reducing prices for consumers. Quebecor Inc. intends to utilize Freedom's infrastructure and skilled workforce to enhance service offerings, invest in advanced technologies like 5G, and ultimately promote affordability and innovation within the telecommunications market. Freedom Mobile is a Canadian wireless carrier that specializes in providing affordable wireless communication services, including voice, text, and data plans, as well as rich communication services (RCS).

Major companies operating in the rich communication services (RCS) market include AT&T Inc., Vodafone Idea Limited, Deutsche Telekom AG, Google LLC, Verizon Communications Inc., SK Telecom Co. Ltd., ZTE Corporation, Global Message Services, HRMavenir Systems Inc., Infobip Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., T-Mobile Inc., Ericssion, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, Swisscom AG, Telefónica S.A., Bell Canada Enterprises Inc., TELUS Communications Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., China Mobile Communications Corporation, NTT Docomo Inc., SoftBank Group Corporation, KDDI Corporation, KT Corporation, LG Uplus Corp., Singapore Telecommunications Limited, StarHub Limited, M1 Limited, True Corporation Public Company Limited, TOT Public Company Limited, Total Access Communication PCL (DTAC), Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited.

North America was the largest region in the rich communication services (RCS) market in 2024. The regions covered in the rich communication services (rcs) market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the rich communication services (rcs) market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Rich Communication Services (RCS) serves as an advanced messaging protocol enhancing mobile communication beyond traditional SMS. It facilitates features such as group conversations, media sharing, read receipts, and end-to-end encryption.

Within the realm of RCS, three primary categories exist A2P, P2A, and P2P. A2P, denoting Application-to-Person messaging, functions as a corporate messaging tool where marketers utilize software applications to send text messages to mobile customers. This form of messaging is employed for transmitting alerts, notifications, and various automated messages. A2P finds applications across diverse environments, including on-premises and cloud solutions, catering to small and medium enterprises as well as large enterprises. Its utilization spans rich calls and messaging, content delivery, value-added services, marketing and advertising campaigns, and cloud storage. Industries such as healthcare, retail, e-commerce, BFSI, IT and telecom, as well as travel and tourism, leverage A2P messaging for effective communication and engagement.

The rich communication services (RCS) market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides rich communication services (RCS) market statistics, including rich communication services (RCS) industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a rich communication services (RCS) market share, detailed rich communication services (RCS) market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the rich communication services (RCS) industry. This rich communication services (RCS) market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The rich communication services (RCS) market includes revenues earned by entities by group messaging, rich media sharing, read receipts, typing indicators, chatbot and enhanced calling. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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