Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) using 5G could generate around $1 billion in service revenue by the end of 2019, according to a new report from SNS Research.
Market intelligence from SNS Research indicates that growth will accelerate rapidly after 2019, with global FWA service revenues potentially surpassing $40 billion by 2025.
“FWA has emerged as one of the most prominent use cases for early 5G network deployments,” the report states. “Many mobile operators and service providers are initially positioning 5G as a fixed wireless alternative to deliver last-mile connectivity—offering multi-hundred megabit and gigabit speeds—in areas where fiber infrastructure is limited.”
SNS Research highlights the 28 GHz frequency band as a common choice for early 5G FWA implementations, noting that many equipment vendors have already developed hardware suited to that spectrum. The report also finds that 5G-based FWA can reduce initial deployment costs by up to 40% compared with fiber to the premises (FTTP) in certain scenarios.
The current surge in interest is being driven in part by major U.S. operators such as Verizon and AT&T, which have launched early commercial FWA offerings. Verizon’s CEO Lowell McAdam, speaking at a J.P. Morgan investor conference in May, expressed strong enthusiasm about the potential of fixed wireless, and Verizon has been running 5G trials in multiple U.S. markets.
SNS Research also challenges the common assumption that 5G FWA is best suited only to dense urban environments. The report argues that 5G-based FWA is technically viable for rural communities as well, a view supported by regional carriers like C Spire and U.S. Cellular who are exploring fixed wireless deployments to expand broadband access in less densely populated areas.
The SNS Research report provides detailed market forecasts, deployment scenarios, and cost comparisons for operators considering 5G FWA as a strategic option for last-mile broadband delivery.
For full details, SNS Research offers the complete report (subscription required).