Dell’Oro: 4G and 5G FWA revenue grew 7% in 2024; MRFR: FWA worth $182.27B by 2032
According to Dell’Oro Group, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) has surged in recent years to support both residential and enterprise connectivity due to its ease of deployment along with the more widespread availability of 4G LTE and 5G Sub-6GHz networks. Preliminary findings suggest total FWA revenues, including RAN equipment, residential CPE, and enterprise router and gateway revenue remain on track to advance 7% in 2024, driven largely by residential subscriber growth in North America and India, as well as growing branch office connectivity more globally.
“Initially viewed as a way to monetize under-utilized spectrum, FWA has grown to become a major tool for connecting homes and businesses with broadband,” said Jeff Heynen, Vice President with the Dell’Oro Group. “What started in the U.S. is now expanding to India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as mobile operators continue to expand their 5G-based FWA offerings to both residential and enterprise customers,” added Heynen.
Additional highlights from the Fixed Wireless Access Infrastructure and CPE Advanced Research Report:
- Total FWA equipment revenue for the 2023-2027 period have been revised upward by 17 percent, reflecting continued positive subscriber growth in North America and India.
- Long-term subscriber growth is expected to occur in emerging markets in Southeast Asia and MEA, due to upgrades to existing 3G and LTE networks and a need to connect subscribers economically.
- The Satellite Broadband market will also be a key enabler of broadband connectivity in emerging markets as well as rural markets where existing infrastructure either doesn’t exist or is cost-prohibitive to deploy. Subscriber growth will generally come from LEOS-based providers including Starlink, OneWeb, and Project Kuiper.
The Dell’Oro Group Fixed Wireless Access Infrastructure and CPE Report includes 5-year market forecasts for FWA CPE (Residential and Enterprise) and RAN infrastructure, segmented by technology, including 802.11/Other, 4G LTE, CBRS, 5G sub-6GHz, 5G mmWave, and 60GHz technologies. The report also includes regional subscriber forecasts for FWA and satellite broadband technologies, as well as Residential Gateway forecasts for satellite broadband deployments. To purchase this report, please contact us by email at [email protected].
In a related Dell’Oro post, Stefan Pongratz wrote that Dedicated FWA RAN < $1B:
The market opportunity for DSL and fiber replacements or alternative solutions is vast. According to the ITU and Ericsson’s Mobility Report, approximately 35% of the world’s two billion households remain underserved, lacking broadband connectivity. Beyond these unconnected households, FWA technologies can also address the needs of secondary homes and small businesses. With nearly half of 5G operators supporting 5G FWA (GSA), fixed wireless is already a mature technology, boosting both the RAN and the broadband markets.
Despite these advancements, the fundamental economics driving FWA are not expected to shift significantly in 2025. While technological improvements are expanding the TAM, the business case remains constrained by the mobile network’s capacity and the ROI of dedicated FWA RAN deployments. Operators continue refining their targets, but the existing mobile network infrastructure offers the most favorable RAN economics.
Although operators are gradually increasing their investments in dedicated RAN solutions for high-traffic areas, mobile networks are expected to maintain dominance in the near term. According to our latest FWA report, which covers the broader FWA ecosystem—including 3GPP and non-3GPP RAN and devices—dedicated FWA RAN investments are projected to stay below $1 billion in 2025.
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Separately, MRFR says the FWA market will be worth $182.27 Billion by 2032. Here’s a chart of 5G Fixed Wireless Access Market Growth:
FWA Growth Drivers:
Rising Demand for High-Speed Internet: With the increasing reliance on digital infrastructure and applications, there is a surging demand for high-speed and reliable internet connectivity. 5G FWA solutions offer ultra-fast broadband to underserved and remote areas, addressing connectivity gaps effectively.
Growing Adoption of IoT and Advanced Technologies: The proliferation of IoT devices and the need for seamless connectivity are driving the adoption of 5G FWA solutions. Additionally, advancements in mmWave technology enhance bandwidth efficiency, boosting market adoption.
Cost-Effective Alternative to Fiber Networks: 5G FWA provides a cost-efficient and rapid deployment option compared to traditional fiber-based internet, making it an attractive solution for internet service providers and enterprises.
References:
Operators should draw lessons from Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), a rare bright spot for 5G. By leveraging existing mobile infrastructure, FWA has emerged as a cost-effective broadband solution, especially in markets with prohibitive fixed broadband deployment costs. In 2024, operators like Verizon and T-Mobile in the U.S. saw significant subscriber growth, cementing FWA’s role as a viable broadband alternative. Similar success stories emerged in India and the Philippines, where FWA addressed gaps in fiber penetration.
FWA’s plug-and-play model has been a game-changer for consumers, combining ease of self-installation with competitive pricing. However, as demand and traffic grow, operators must ensure that mobile network performance remains robust to support this increased load.
https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/op-ed-heres-why-standalone-5g-not-ready-primetime