Global fixed wireless access (FWA) subscriptions are forecast to reach 265 million by 2029, growing at a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the time period, according to new data from ABI Research.
The growth is attributed to the expanding role that FWA technology is having in densely populated and remote areas that are looking for alternatives to traditional broadband technologies.
“As the demand for a more connected world continues to grow, the performance and efficiency of FWA technology remain a key driver in bridging the connectivity divide, providing high-speed, reliable internet access in both the enterprise and consumer markets,” said Larbi Belkhit, 5G, 6G and Open RAN research analyst at ABI.
5G growing
Of this growth 45% is expected to be 5G FWA that will reach 118 million and with a CAGR of 35% during the forecast period.
ABI said the shift toward more advanced network technologies for FWA will continue as companies see it as a key driver of broadband alternatives.
“Furthermore, technology advancements in the 5G FWA space are also playing a key role, with ZTE announcing the world’s first AI 5G FWA CPE in the market during Mobile World Congress (MWC) in 2024, improving the bandwidth utilization and reducing network congestion of 5G CPEs, further driving the adoption of this technology,” Belkhit said.
What is FWA?
5G FWA is seen as an alternative to broadband using 5G cellular to supply wireless technology for home-based networks. 5G signals are converted into Wi-Fi signals through base station construction and paired FWA devices as user internet connections. The technology has also been moving forward with 5G new radio interfaces, network slicing, massive MIMO and quality of service guarantees.
FWA has advantages over fiber-to-the-home in terms of infrastructure and maintenance costs including in ground excavation, burying cable and installation in buildings and households. With governments looking to expand broadband, many are seeing wireless as a low-cost means to provide broadband internet services.
