Industrial Ethernet Dominance Grows, HMS Networks Report Confirms

HMS Networks has released its annual analysis of the industrial network market, confirming the increasing dominance of Industrial Ethernet. The report indicates that Ethernet-based networks now represent 76% of new installations, up from 71% in the previous year. PROFINET remains the leading protocol with 27% market share.

The overall market experienced a slight slowdown in 2024, with a decrease of approximately 10–11% in newly installed nodes. This dip is attributed to a more challenging economic environment and uncertainties, particularly in highly automated sectors like automotive and manufacturing in Europe. Fieldbus technologies saw their share decline to 17% from 22% of new installations.

Wireless technologies held steady at 7% of new node installations, serving as a complementary solution for mobility, flexibility, or hard-to-reach areas. The adoption of 5G in industrial automation remains gradual due to infrastructure complexity and cost, despite ongoing preliminary deployments.

Regionally, PROFINET and EtherCAT show strength in Europe, with growing interest in new technologies such as APL and SPE. In North America, EtherNet/IP leads, but adoption of smart device-friendly technologies is also increasing. In Asia, PROFINET and EtherCAT are growing in China, while CC-Link IE maintains a strong regional foothold.