ABI Research noted that 5G FWA subscriptions will reach 118 million by 2029
Worldwide Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) subscriptions are expected to grow at a 14% compound annual growth rate to reach almost 265 million by 2029, according to the latest findings from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research.
ABI Research noted that this growth reflects the expanding role of FWA technology in enhancing connectivity worldwide, in both densely populated and remote areas.
“As the demand for a more connected world continues to grow, the performance and efficiency of FWA technology remains 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.
The report also highlighted that 5G FWA technology is expected to represent 45% of the total FWA subscription base by 2029, reaching 118 million at a CAGR of 35%.
According to ABI Research, Indian operator Reliance Jio Infocomm has committed to reaching 100 million 5G FWA connected premises in India, which would be a key driver in growing the 5G subscription base.
In January, Reliance Jio Infocomm had said that its 5G FWA service, dubbed JioAirFiber, will have pan-India coverage within the first half of 2024. The carrier’s 5G FWA service is already available in over 4,000 towns and cities across India.
“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 added.
In June 2023, Swedish vendor Ericsson said that FWA connections worldwide are forecasted to reach 300 million by the end of 2028, up from 100 million connections at the end of 2022. Of the 300 million projected connections, nearly 80% are expected to be over 5G, according to Ericsson.
The Swedish vendor also stated that over 100 service providers are currently offering FWA services over 5G networks.
Ericsson also noted that FWA technology is experiencing a solid growth in terms of the number of mobile service providers offering FWA, the proportion of those offering the service over 5G as well as in the proportion of providers with speed-based tariff structures.
The Ericsson report had also revealed that around 80% of providers currently have an FWA offering, up from 77% in November 2022. Ericsson said that around 40% of FWA service providers are offering the services over 5G networks.
