Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) – IEEE ComSoc Technology Blog

Starlink Mobile: NTN–Terrestrial Convergence, Network Capacity, and the Limits of Disruption

Posted on August 8, 2026 by Alan Weissberger

Executive Summary:

Elon Musk’s strategic objective for Starlink extends beyond satellite broadband connectivity for remote, maritime, aviation, and enterprise users. SpaceX is positioning Starlink for a broader role in mobile communications through an integrated non-terrestrial network (NTN) and terrestrial-network architecture. That strategy could combine direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity, satellite backhaul, selected terrestrial access infrastructure, and potentially a retail mobile service.

Financial markets have treated that prospect seriously. Shares of U.S. wireless network operators have been under pressure since SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell described the opportunity for “Starlink Mobile” as “huge,” in a CNBC interview on June 12th. On SpaceX’s recent earnings call, Shotwell characterized the U.S. wireless market as generating $600 billion in annual revenue and stated, “and I anticipate us to be able to acquire quite a few of their customers because I think our service will be better.”

Editor’s Note: The combined annual revenue of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile is closer to $360 billion, depending on the reporting period and whether total revenue or service revenue is used.

The timing, service architecture, spectrum strategy, device ecosystem, and go-to-market model for a SpaceX mobile offering remain unresolved. A central distinction is needed: direct-to-device NTN service, satellite backhaul, a terrestrial radio access network (RAN), and a consumer mobile service are related but technically and commercially distinct propositions.

The most plausible medium-term outcome is not wholesale replacement of U.S. mobile network operators (MNOs), but deeper NTN–terrestrial integration. LEO satellite systems can extend coverage, improve resilience, support mobility, and connect underserved areas. Dense terrestrial networks retain structural advantages for high-traffic urban service, indoor coverage, and busy-hour mobile capacity.

“The perceived risk of Starlink Mobile disrupting the U.S. wireless industry is greater than the actual risk in the next one to two years,” says Morgan Stanley analyst Sean Diffley.

Starlink’s satellite-broadband business serves 12 million subscribers and reportedly generates profit margins above 60%. Musk’s ambitions, however, extend beyond connectivity for aircraft, ships, and remote fixed locations. SpaceX plans a large third-generation Starlink constellation, supported by the anticipated launch economics of its fully reusable Starship system. Starlink V3 satellites are expected to materially increase satellite capacity relative to earlier generations.

However, aggregate constellation capacity should not be equated with mobile-network capacity in dense urban markets. The relevant question is how much spectrum, beam capacity, spatial reuse, and backhaul capacity can be delivered to a given area during the busy hour.

Image Source: Facebook

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Starlink Mobile could develop along four, potentially overlapping, paths:

Service or architecture	Primary function	Principal constraint
Direct-to-device NTN	Extends basic connectivity beyond terrestrial coverage using standard or adapted mobile devices	Limited shared spectrum and capacity over large beam footprints
Satellite backhaul	Connects selected remote, temporary, or difficult-to-fiber terrestrial sites	Cost, capacity, availability, and traffic concentration
Hybrid NTN–terrestrial network	Combines satellite coverage extension with targeted terrestrial RAN deployment	Capital intensity and operational integration
Retail mobile service or MVNO	Markets consumer service using wholesale terrestrial access and Starlink capabilities	Dependence on partner economics and network-control limitations

The proposed Starlink Mobile service should therefore be assessed as an integrated network proposition, not as a simple satellite replacement for a nationwide cellular network.

Why Terrestrial Networks Retain an Advantage:

The central technical constraint is spatial/spectrum reuse. Terrestrial mobile networks deliver high area capacity by repeatedly reusing licensed spectrum across dense grids of macro cells, small cells, and indoor systems. Capacity is further increased through sectorization, advanced antenna systems, massive MIMO, carrier aggregation, and high-capacity fiber or microwave backhaul.

A LEO satellite system has different strengths. It can provide wide-area reach, support mobility, offer resilience during terrestrial outages, and extend coverage to regions where conventional network deployment is uneconomic. Yet its radio resources are shared across comparatively large beam footprints. This creates more demanding link-budget, capacity, and spectral-efficiency constraints in high-density areas, particularly for indoor service and busy-hour traffic.

Terrestrial-cell coverage areas vary considerably with spectrum band, terrain, urban morphology, antenna configuration, and load. Nevertheless, the architectural distinction remains: terrestrial networks achieve high capacity by spatially reusing spectrum over relatively small geographic areas, whereas satellite systems must manage shared capacity over much broader footprints.

For this reason, Starlink V3 satellites may substantially improve overall system capability without eliminating the terrestrial RAN advantage in dense urban and suburban markets. The strongest near-term use cases for NTN are likely to include coverage extension, emergency communications, maritime and aviation connectivity, mobility, IoT, selected backhaul, and service in remote or underserved locations.

3GPP’s NTN work is specifically directed toward integration with terrestrial cellular and wireline networks, reinforcing the view that NTN will develop as part of a broader communications architecture rather than wholly separate from it. Analyss opinions:

Daiwa Capital Markets analyst Jonathan Kees similarly argues that Starlink is “only a complement, not a substitute” for existing wireless infrastructure.
BofA Securities analyst Michael Funk reaches a comparable conclusion: “Existing direct-to-device satellite technology [is] underdeveloped and largely complementary to terrestrial mobile networks,” Funk says.

Spectrum, Capital, and AI:

SpaceX has acquired valuable spectrum assets through its EchoStar transactions. The FCC approved the transfer of approximately 65 MHz of spectrum to SpaceX for next-generation direct-to-device use. This is strategically important, but spectrum ownership alone does not establish a nationwide facilities-based mobile network.

A fourth nationwide MNO would require much more than spectrum. It would require:

Radio-access infrastructure, including macro sites, small cells, antennas, radios, and power.
High-capacity backhaul and transport networks.
Mobile core-network functions, service assurance, cybersecurity, and operational-support systems.
Device testing and certification, distribution, retail channels, billing, customer care, and subscriber-acquisition spending.
Sustained capital investment to expand coverage and capacity as traffic grows.

SpaceX must also finance Starlink V3 production, launches, constellation replenishment, gateways, ground infrastructure, and continuing development of D2D and NTN capabilities. At the same time, the company is investing heavily in AI infrastructure and Starship. Reported second-quarter capex exceeded $18 billion, including approximately $15.83 billion associated with AI infrastructure.

This does not establish that SpaceX lacks the financial capability to enter mobile communications. It does establish a major capital-allocation challenge. AI infrastructure requires rapid, front-loaded investment; terrestrial mobile networks require multi-year and geographically distributed deployment; and satellite systems require recurring capital expenditure for replenishment and capacity expansion.

—->Please see detailed discussion of this issue in Addendum below Conclusions subhead.

The key strategic risk is therefore prioritization. If AI, Starship, and satellite-constellation investment continue to absorb the majority of incremental capital, Starlink Mobile may progress more slowly as an independent terrestrial build. It may instead favor targeted terrestrial deployment, satellite-enabled backhaul, wholesale arrangements, or an MVNO model.

Starlink Coverage Issues as per Iain Morris of Light Reading:

Starlink is estimated to have between 3 and 4 million subscribers in the U.S., mostly in rural areas where there is no fixed or mobile alternative. That is, after all, why someone would opt for satellite broadband. But a small cell network built on the rooftops of these 3 to 4 million customers – or several times that amount – is not going to provide the mobile coverage demanded by anyone who even occasionally travels a few miles from home. And inside the building, what advantage would a Starlink cellular service have over Starlink-supported Wi-Fi?

SpaceX cannot possibly hope to address this coverage problem without some kind of physics-defying technological breakthrough. According to figures shared by an authoritative source on the telco side, a small cell might get you coverage about half a kilometer from the basestation, while a rural macro site would take you up to 20 kilometers from it. In urban areas where higher-frequency spectrum comes into play, this radius would probably fall to about 2 kilometers, making small cells look more competitive. The trouble there is Starlink’s lack of subscribers in cities.

Other estimates do not improve the outlook. William Webb, an academic and analyst who previously worked for UK telecom regulator Ofcom, thinks Starlink might be able to achieve a coverage radius of 1 to 2 kilometers with roof-mounted antennas, “assuming a reasonably high gain cellular antenna is integrated into the Starlink terminal and oriented correctly,” as he wrote in a LinkedIn update. But mounting below roof level would reduce the figure to less than 1 kilometer, according to Webb.

“The biggest issue will likely be that overall coverage will be patchy, concentrated in areas where there are the most Starlink broadband subscribers,” he said. “These are likely to be rural areas where fixed broadband provision is poor. As a result, coverage will likely be overlapping in rural communities but sparse outside of these areas.”

Commercial Models and Possible Partnerships:

SpaceX may determine that a fully independent nationwide mobile network is not the most efficient near-term approach. An MVNO arrangement would allow SpaceX to purchase terrestrial capacity at wholesale rates while offering a consumer service incorporating Starlink capabilities. Such a model could provide near-national coverage more rapidly, though it would reduce SpaceX’s control over network economics, service differentiation, and quality-of-service management.

Several Starlink Mobile outcomes are plausible:

Path	Capital requirement	Likely implication
Independent nationwide MNO	Very high	Long deployment cycle, substantial execution risk, and intense capital competition with AI, Starship, and satellite programs
Hybrid NTN–terrestrial network	High, but targeted	Satellite supports coverage extension and selected backhaul; terrestrial infrastructure is concentrated where capacity demand is greatest
MVNO or strategic MNO partnership	Lower upfront capex	Faster national-market entry, but less control over margins, network policy, and customer experience

Why would AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile enter an MVNO or deeper partnership with a prospective competitor? The answer may be competitive strategy. The first MNO to secure a commercially favorable relationship with SpaceX could gain a relative advantage in coverage, satellite integration, customer acquisition, or enterprise services.

SpaceX is “going to have to partner with one of the mobile network operators like a Verizon or T-Mobile,” says RBC Capital Markets analyst Ken Herbert. “They’re going to have to find ways to work with other companies.”

T-Mobile already has a direct-to-cell/device (D2D) relationship with SpaceX. Verizon’s FWA business is more directly exposed to fixed-broadband competition from Starlink, while AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile each possess extensive spectrum, RAN, transport, and customer-service assets that would be difficult and costly for a new nationwide entrant to replicate.

Evaluating Starlink/Spacex Deployment Plans:

Starlink’s satellite-broadband business serves 12 million subscribers and reportedly generates profit margins above 60%. Musk’s ambition, however, is substantially broader than providing internet access to aircraft and oceangoing vessels. SpaceX plans to deploy as many as 100,000 third-generation Starlink satellites, supported by the anticipated economics of its fully reusable Starship launch system. Starship remains in the test phase, but SpaceX has stated that it is designed to place up to 150 metric tons in orbit per launch at approximately one-tenth the per-kilogram cost of Falcon 9. Starlink V3 satellites are expected to provide roughly 10 times the capacity of earlier-generation spacecraft.

SpaceX is advancing these plans at a time when the U.S. communications market is already experiencing cross-sector competitive convergence. Fifth-generation mobile technology enabled MNOs to expand fixed wireless access (FWA) offerings and compete more directly with cable operators for residential broadband customers. The resulting service bundles combine mobile subscriptions, home broadband, and, in some cases, video and value-added services. Cable operators, in turn, have expanded mobile offerings, generally using Wi-Fi offload, their extensive wireline footprints, and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) arrangements with incumbent wireless carriers for wide-area cellular coverage.

This competitive equilibrium has modestly favored wireless operators, although neither sector has emerged unambiguously dominant. AT&T, for example, is expected to generate sales and earnings growth over the next several years, albeit below broader market growth rates. Comcast faces a more constrained outlook, with relatively flat expected revenue and earnings performance. The valuation gap reflects both differing growth expectations and the capital intensity of maintaining and upgrading nationwide communications infrastructure.

Wall Street has amplified concerns about SpaceX’s competitive impact. Early research coverage has broadly characterized the launch, satellite-connectivity, and artificial-intelligence company as a disruptive force. The average analyst price target for SpaceX stock is approximately $227, implying a valuation near $3 trillion—roughly five times the combined market capitalization of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

The major U.S. MNOs also operate with substantial debt burdens. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile collectively carry approximately $420 billion in net debt, against about $140 billion in expected 2026 EBITDA. “I would not for a second sleep easily if I had the investments that [wireless telecom providers] have, and the debt that they have, and Elon Musk working on a superweapon as it pertains to my business,” says Drew Cupps of Polen Capital.

Nevertheless, Starlink faces significant capital, engineering, and deployment challenges before it can offer a broadly substitutable mobile service. Daiwa Capital Markets analyst Jonathan Kees argues that the investment required to build a V3-based Starlink constellation capable of materially disrupting terrestrial operators is underestimated. He estimates that constellation deployment could require more than $100 billion, excluding investment associated with SpaceX’s AI initiatives. Starlink is “only a complement, not a substitute” for existing wireless infrastructure, says Kees.

The fundamental constraint is spatial reuse and capacity density. A terrestrial cell site can concentrate spectrum resources over a coverage area measured in a few square miles, while a LEO satellite beam may serve a much broader footprint. Satellite systems therefore face more difficult link-budget, capacity, and spectral-efficiency challenges in dense urban environments, particularly for indoor service and high-traffic applications. V3 satellites may substantially improve system capacity, but they do not eliminate the capacity advantage of dense terrestrial RAN deployments.

For that reason, BofA Securities analyst Michael Funk does not view SpaceX as an immediate, large-scale competitive threat to incumbent MNOs. While some projections assign LEO-based mobile services 15% to 35% of the U.S. telecommunications market, Funk regards those estimates as overly optimistic. “Existing direct-to-device satellite technology [is] underdeveloped and largely complementary to terrestrial mobile networks,” Funk says. That assessment is consistent with Starlink’s present international model, which emphasizes partnerships with mobile operators rather than wholesale replacement of their networks.

Conclusions:

Starlink Mobile is an important strategic development in the evolution of NTN–terrestrial convergence. It should not, however, be evaluated as a satellite-only replacement for nationwide cellular networks.

LEO systems can provide broad-area reach, coverage extension, resilience, mobility, selected backhaul, and direct-to-device services. Dense terrestrial RAN infrastructure retains decisive advantages in spatial reuse, indoor coverage, spectrum utilization, and busy-hour capacity. Starlink’s most credible competitive impact in the near and medium term is therefore likely to occur in selected coverage, mobility, resilience, backhaul, and fixed-broadband segments—not through immediate replacement of nationwide terrestrial mobile networks.

The central uncertainty is which architecture and commercial model SpaceX will adopt. Its concurrent commitments to AI infrastructure, Starship, satellite replenishment, and spectrum assets may favor a hybrid or partnership-led approach over a fully independent nationwide MNO build.

In that outcome, incumbent operators’ spectrum, terrestrial RAN, fiber backhaul, tower infrastructure, customer relationships, and regulatory authorizations remain strategically important. Rather than becoming obsolete, those assets may increase in value as NTN and terrestrial networks become more tightly integrated.

If satellite and terrestrial systems become increasingly interdependent, incumbent operators’ assets may become more valuable rather than less. Spectrum, fiber backhaul, tower infrastructure, distributed RAN assets, customer relationships, billing systems, and regulatory authorizations remain essential elements of an integrated non-terrestrial network (NTN) and terrestrial-network ecosystem. EchoStar’s share-price appreciation over the past year illustrates the strategic value that spectrum holdings can command, particularly as SpaceX and AT&T acquire additional spectrum assets.

The three national U.S. wireless operators collectively hold spectrum assets estimated to be worth more than $400 billion based on recent transaction benchmarks. That figure is approximately 80% of their combined market capitalization and is broadly comparable to their aggregate debt burden. Spectrum holdings alone do not establish an investment thesis, but they provide a meaningful asset-value foundation as satellite, terrestrial, and hybrid connectivity models continue to evolve. They aren’t going to sell their spectrum. They have businesses to run, and those businesses are reasonably valued and growing.

Addendum: AI Capex is a Significant Risk for Starlink Mobile:

AI-data-center investment is a significant capital-allocation risk to Starlink Mobile, but it is not, by itself, evidence that SpaceX lacks the financial capacity to enter mobile communications. The more credible concern is that AI, Starship, constellation replenishment, and terrestrial mobile deployment will compete for capital simultaneously—potentially slowing Starlink Mobile’s rollout, limiting network densification, or increasing reliance on an MVNO partnership.

SpaceX’s capital spending has risen sharply: reported second-quarter capex exceeded $18 billion, including approximately $15.83 billion directed to AI infrastructure. Management indicated that similarly elevated capex could continue over subsequent quarters. Meanwhile, Starlink profitability and connectivity operations remain an important source of funding for the broader AI strategy.

A facilities-based mobile network would add another exceptionally capital-intensive program:

SpaceX has already committed approximately $19.6 billion through its EchoStar spectrum transactions for up to 65 MHz of spectrum, including associated debt obligations. Thus, the issue is not whether it can acquire any spectrum; it has already done so. The issue is whether that spectrum portfolio is sufficient for a competitive nationwide terrestrial-mobile network, particularly in high-density markets.reuters
A fourth nationwide MNO requires far more than spectrum: site acquisition, radios, antennas, power, backhaul, core-network functions, device certification, retail/distribution, customer care, and sustained subscriber-acquisition spending.
Starlink must also fund V3 satellite production, launch capacity, gateway infrastructure, constellation replenishment, and the evolution of direct-to-device/non-terrestrial-network capabilities.

These programs have distinctly different investment horizons. AI infrastructure requires rapid, front-loaded spending to secure compute capacity; terrestrial mobile networks require multi-year, geographically distributed capex; and satellite systems require continuous capital expenditure to maintain and upgrade orbital capacity.

The likely consequence is not cancellation of Starlink Mobile, but a more capital-disciplined architecture than a conventional nationwide greenfield MNO build. SpaceX has said it intends to build terrestrial mobile services but has not disclosed projected mobile capex or a site-count plan; analysts have warned that a competitive direct-to-consumer national offering would be very difficult without an MVNO agreement providing broad baseline coverage. This produces three plausible outcomes:

Path	Capital requirement	Likely implication
Independent nationwide MNO	Very high	Slow rollout, large execution risk, and a potentially prolonged cash drain while AI and Starship also consume capital
Hybrid satellite–terrestrial network	High but more targeted	Terrestrial build concentrated in capacity-constrained urban and suburban areas; Starlink provides backhaul, coverage extension, and resilience
MVNO or strategic MNO partnership	Lower upfront capex	Fastest route to nationwide service, but less control over margins, product design, and differentiation

Technical constraint remains decisive: Even if SpaceX could fully finance a terrestrial build, capital alone does not eliminate the fundamental network-engineering constraints. Its acquired spectrum is valuable, but incumbents have substantially deeper spectrum portfolios, dense existing cell-site grids, mature indoor-coverage solutions, established device ecosystems, and decades of operational experience.

Satellite connectivity can reduce backhaul requirements at selected sites and enhance rural, maritime, aviation, emergency, and resilience use cases. It cannot economically substitute for dense terrestrial spectral reuse in the highest-traffic urban areas. Therefore, AI-related capex pressure is particularly relevant because Starlink Mobile needs substantial investment precisely where the satellite component provides the least complete replacement for terrestrial infrastructure.

A key additional risk is strategic prioritization, not immediate insolvency. If SpaceX continues allocating the overwhelming share of incremental capital to AI data centers and Starship, Starlink Mobile may emerge as a hybrid service, wholesale platform, or MVNO-enabled offering rather than a fully independent fourth nationwide carrier. That outcome would reduce the near- to medium-term disruption risk to AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It would also reinforce the more technically credible view that Starlink is likely to be complementary to terrestrial mobile networks for years, even if it becomes a powerful competitor in selected coverage, backhaul, and mobility segments.

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References:

https://www.barrons.com/articles/spacex-wont-destroy-telecomit-will-just-reinvent-it-79b88d1a

https://www.lightreading.com/satellite/spacex-small-cell-plan-serves-up-more-musk-madness

FT: SpaceX considering Starlink Direct-to-Consumer mobile service & terrestrial cellular network infrastructure in the U.S. (See Comments below the article)

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Broadcom with Samsung Electronics: Integrated 5G and Wi-Fi 8 FWA Platform

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Alan Weissberger

Broadcom has announced a collaboration with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. to develop a reference platform for fixed wireless access (FWA) deployments, combining Broadcom’s BCM6776 Wi-Fi system-on-chip (SoC) with Samsung’s B1320 5G modem. The platform is designed to integrate 3GPP Release 17 5G connectivity with emerging IEEE 802.11bn (Wi-Fi 8) capabilities, supporting convergence between wide-area and local-area broadband technologies.

The reference design targets global FWA use cases, where operators seek to deliver high-throughput broadband services using 5G radio access in conjunction with advanced in-home wireless distribution. By aligning 5G and Wi-Fi 8 performance characteristics, the platform addresses requirements for sustained throughput, low latency, and reliability under variable radio conditions. The design also emphasizes scalability for high-volume deployments, with integration intended to reduce system complexity and cost.

The Broadcom BCM6776 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 8 SoC designed for residential and small enterprise access points. It integrates a quad-core Arm-based network processor with Wi-Fi 8 radio functionality in a single device. The SoC supports 2-stream operation with 40 MHz channels in the 2.4 GHz band, and 4-stream operation with up to 160 MHz channels in the 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands. This configuration enables multi-gigabit aggregate throughput while maintaining compatibility with evolving IEEE 802.11bn features.

Integration of compute and radio subsystems within a single SoC reduces bill of materials (BOM) requirements and simplifies hardware design. Power efficiency is also improved relative to prior architectures that relied on discrete components, supporting deployment in thermally constrained residential environments.

Image Credit: Broadcom

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The Samsung B1320 modem is a 5 nm-class integrated 5G chipset compliant with 3GPP Release 17. It supports peak downlink throughput of up to 3.43 Gbps and uplink throughput of up to 1.17 Gbps, depending on deployment configuration. The modem incorporates a quad-core Arm CPU, RF transceiver, power management functions, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver.

The platform further supports non-terrestrial network (NTN) operation, including both NR-NTN and NB-NTN modes, enabling compatibility with satellite-based extensions of 5G coverage.

The combined architecture is designed to sustain end-to-end throughput between the 5G access link and the in-home Wi-Fi network, minimizing bottlenecks between the wide-area and local domains. This is particularly relevant for FWA deployments, where performance is constrained by both radio access conditions and in-premises distribution efficiency.

By providing a pre-integrated reference design, the platform enables original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and operators to accelerate development cycles and standardize system performance across deployments. This approach supports broader adoption of FWA as a complement to fixed broadband infrastructure, particularly in scenarios where fiber deployment is limited or economically constrained.

“At Computex 2026, we are highlighting that the future of home internet can be both accessible and affordable,” said Joonsuk Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of CP Development at Samsung Electronics. “This platform is designed to deliver reliable performance across a wide range of environments, helping operators bring high-quality connectivity experiences to subscribers.”

“Broadcom is proud to lead the Wi-Fi 8 transition alongside Samsung and our valued ODM partners,” said Vijay Nagarajan, Vice President of Marketing, Wireless and Broadband Communications Division at Broadcom. “This partnership is a game-changer for the FWA market. The combination of Wi-Fi 8 and 5G prioritizes coordinated reliability, giving operators a tool that delivers a consistent experience to every corner of the home.”

Product Features:

The Samsung B1320 is a broadband-optimized 5G platform with the following features:

3GPP Release 17
4Rx/2Tx radio chain support
Power Class 1.5 support (TDD bands)
LPDDR4x / LPDDR5x support
1.6 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU
5 Gbps USXGMII, PCIe Gen 3, USB 2.0
GNSS
NR-NTN and NB-NTN support for n255 and n256 (L- and S-bands)

The Broadcom BCM6776 is a single-chip Wi-Fi SoC and multi-band radio supporting the following:

High performance quad-core CPU complex
Dedicated network processing engine freeing the CPU complex for operator-specific applications and utilities
Integrated 2×2 2.4 GHz and 4×4 5 GHz and 6 GHz Wi-Fi 8 MAC/PHY/Radio functionality, simplifying system design and lowering cost
On-chip 2.4 GHz power amplifiers (PAs) and support for third-generation digital pre-distortion for reduced external components and improved RF efficiency
Versatile memory controller supporting DDR4, LPDDR4, DDR5, and LPDDR5
Dual PCIe Gen3 controllers to enable simultaneous tri-band applications with a single additional chip
Integrated multi-gig PHY

A Global Ecosystem of Support:

The launch is supported by the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who are already integrating the B1320 / BCM6776 platform into their next-generation gateway portfolios.

“HUMAX Networks is delighted to pioneer the next-generation 5G CPE market alongside global technology leaders Broadcom and Samsung. At the recent MWC 2026, we successfully showcased the industry’s first Wi-Fi 8 solution, which integrates Samsung’s cutting-edge 5G technology with Broadcom’s next-generation silicon. Through our ongoing partnership, we remain committed to driving market innovation and consistently delivering top-tier experiences and innovative devices to our global customers,” said Jerry Lee, CEO of Humax Networks.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Broadcom and Samsung to develop our next generation Wi-Fi 8 gateway addressing MSO CBU/FWA market. This solution is capable of delivering a smarter, more secure, and future-ready network optimized solution to meet MSO/FWA customers’ increasing demands of cost competitive 5G NR connectivity,” said Johnson Hsu, SVP & GM of WNC’s Connectivity & Solutions BG.

Availability:

Global carrier trials and OEM sampling of the Samsung B1320 / Broadcom BCM6776 FWA platform are underway.

About Broadcom:

Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a technology leader that designs, develops, and supplies semiconductors and infrastructure software for global organizations’ complex, mission-critical needs. Broadcom combines long-term R&D investment with superb execution to deliver the best technology, at scale. Broadcom is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. For more information, visit www.broadcom.com.

Broadcom, the pulse logo, and Connecting everything are among the trademarks of Broadcom. The term “Broadcom” refers to Broadcom Inc., and/or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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References:

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/27/3302058/0/en/Broadcom-Unveils-World-s-First-Integrated-5G-and-Wi-Fi-8-FWA-Platform-in-Collaboration-with-Samsung-Electronics.html

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Analysis: Broadcom’s end-to-end 50G PON Edge AI portfolio with WiFi 8 support

Posted on May 27, 2026 by Alan Weissberger

Broadcom has announced the BCM68850, a 50G ITU-T PON home gateway system-on-chip (SoC) that integrates a neural processing unit (NPU) and provides native support for emerging Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) capabilities. The device extends the evolution of broadband access silicon toward higher-capacity passive optical network (PON) standards while maintaining alignment with next-generation in-home wireless technologies. Broadcom is currently sampling the BCM68850 and BCM55050 to its early access customers and partners. Please contact your local Broadcom sales representative for samples and pricing.

The integration of NPU functionality within the gateway reflects an architectural trend toward distributing compute resources closer to the network edge. This enables localized processing of AI-driven workloads within customer premises equipment (CPE), which can reduce upstream bandwidth demand and improve responsiveness for latency-sensitive applications.

Migration to 50G PON, as defined within ongoing ITU-T standardization efforts (e.g., Higher Speed PON), provides increased access capacity and improved latency characteristics relative to earlier generations such as XGS-PON. These enhancements support more deterministic service delivery, particularly in environments where traffic patterns are becoming increasingly burst-oriented and driven by compute-intensive applications.

Image Credit: ADTRAN

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In residential networks, traffic is expected to increasingly consist of short-duration, high-throughput bursts associated with edge processing, real-time analytics, and interactive services. A 50G PON gateway can accommodate these patterns by transmitting high-density payloads over sub-millisecond intervals, after which shared channel resources are rapidly released for other users. This behavior contributes to improved utilization efficiency on shared fiber infrastructure.

Low-latency and low-jitter performance are important for emerging application classes, including distributed AI inference, synchronized edge workloads, and multi-stream ultra-high-definition media. These requirements extend across both the access network and the in-home wireless domain, reinforcing the need for coordinated evolution of PON and Wi-Fi technologies.

From a deployment perspective, introduction of 50G-capable CPE provides operators with additional capacity headroom and supports alignment with future service requirements. Coupled with advancements in IEEE 802.11bn, this approach enables continued scaling of residential broadband performance while maintaining consistency across access and local network segments.

BCM68850 – 50G PON Edge AI Gateway SoC:

The BCM68850 is a standalone 50G PON Gateway SoC that provides an industry-standard ITU-T path for operators to future-proof their networks. The device features:

High-Performance Application Engine: A dedicated CPU for third-party and operator applications leveraging industry available middleware.
Integrated Neural Engine: A dedicated NPU that accelerates Edge AI inference, reducing cloud latency and enhancing data privacy by keeping sensitive information on premises.
Symmetric 50G Performance: Delivers full 50G throughput to meet the insatiable appetite for reliable, multi-gigabit bandwidth.
Wi-Fi 8 Ready: Native compatibility with Wi-Fi 8 standards to ensure the highest reliability and real-world consistency at the broadband edge.
Intelligent Self-Healing: Enables operators to implement real-time anomaly detection and predictive bandwidth optimization, reducing OpEx and improving ARPU.
Advanced Security: Incorporates enhanced security algorithms, including Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

“The BCM68850 is a defining milestone for global fiber networks; we are reshaping the broadband edge as the central intelligence hub of the home,” said Philip Radtke, vice president of product marketing for Broadcom’s Wireless and Broadband Communications Division. “This flagship SoC joins our established lineup of NPU-accelerated fiber, cable, set-top box, and Wi-Fi solutions, ensuring operators can efficiently deploy edge-intelligent broadband regardless of the access medium and extend that intelligence all the way to the edge.”

“With ever increasing consumer and enterprise demand for bandwidth and ultra-reliable connectivity, operators are upgrading the Central Office and End Points with 50G PON capability. Next-generation solutions such as Broadcom’s BCM68850 SoC are critical to unlocking the value of this investment by future-proofing the network edge and ensuring high service levels at every node and premise,” said Jaimie Lenderman, practice leader for Optical, IP, and Broadband Infrastructure market research at Omdia.”By establishing a true end-to-end 50G pipe, operators can deliver the massive capacity and deterministic low latency required to support the rigors of the imminent Wi-Fi 8 deployment cycle.”

This end-to-end 50G offering completes the path from Broadcom’s BCM68660 OLT to the edge, providing a seamless and technically robust ecosystem comprising the BCM55050 ONT or the BCM68850 CPE gateway. This architecture introduces a new level of efficiency by optimizing CPU and memory resources for the AI era, ensuring that the home gateway can handle the massive data pipes required for the next decade of digital innovation.

About Broadcom:
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a technology leader that designs, develops, and supplies semiconductors and infrastructure software for global organizations’ complex, mission-critical needs. Broadcom combines long-term R&D investment with superb execution to deliver the best technology, at scale. Broadcom is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. For more information, visit www.broadcom.com.

Broadcom, the pulse logo, and Connecting Everything are among the trademarks of Broadcom. The term “Broadcom” refers to Broadcom Inc., and/or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

References:

https://www.broadcom.com/company/news/product-releases/64341

2026 Fiber Connect Keynote: “The Future of Fiber Optics: AI and the Quantum”

Nokia and Google Fiber trial 50G PON – first in the U.S.

HKT is first to deploy 50G PON technology in Hong Kong

Türk Telekom and ZTE trial 50G PON, but commercial deployment is not imminent

Ooredoo Qatar is first operator in the world to deploy 50G PON

Highlights of FiberConnect 2024: PON-related products dominate

Fiber Connect 2023: Telcos vs Cablecos; fiber symmetric speeds vs. DOCSIS 4.0?

Analysis: AT&T 1Q-2026 results: increased fiber penetration, FWA momentum, D2D deals, and mobile/home internet bundles

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Alan Weissberger

AT&T reported first-quarter results today, achieving its fastest-ever year-over-year organic growth in its advanced connectivity convergence rate, with nearly 45% of advanced home internet subscribers also choosing AT&T wireless. Customers are increasingly purchasing their internet and wireless together from AT&T, highlighting the strength of the company’s differentiated, investment-led strategy to drive converged advanced connectivity at scale.

“We saw our best first quarter ever for Advanced Connectivity internet customer net additions, demonstrating the solid foundation of assets we have built,” said John Stankey, AT&T Chairman and CEO. “We’re uniquely positioned to deliver more of what customers want — fiber and 5G all from one provider on the nation’s largest advanced converged network, backed by the AT&T Guarantee. The actions we’ve taken this quarter are evidence of how we are improving the customer value proposition, scaling faster, and accelerating growth.”

AT&T reported $31.5 billion in consolidated operating revenues, representing a 2.9% year-over-year (YoY) increase and outperforming Street estimates of $31.22 billion. This growth was largely driven by the Advanced Connectivity segment, which generated $22.15 billion in consumer revenues, up from $20.97 billion in the prior-year period.

Wireless Performance: Mobility services posted mostly flat $16.94 billion in revenue, compared to $16.65 billion in Q1 2025.
Legacy Decommissioning: Legacy revenues fell 25.3% YoY to $1.8 billion. The aggressive copper-to-fiber migration continues, with 85% of wire centers now approved for legacy service cessation.
Strategic Sunsetting: 30% of these wire centers are slated for total decommissioning by late 2026, coinciding with the loss of 270,000 DSL subscribers this quarter.

The shift toward high-speed, durable connectivity is evidenced by the growth of AT&T’s Fiber and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) portfolios.

Fiber Penetration: AT&T recorded 292,000 fiber net additions, bringing the total subscriber base to 12.5 million. The current passings stand at 37.5 million locations, with 32.7 million owned/operated and 4.8 million via joint ventures (JVs).
FWA Momentum: AT&T Internet Air added 239,000 customers in the quarter (up from 181,000 in Q1 2025), reaching a total of 1.73 million subscribers.
Roadmap to 60 Million: AT&T remains on track to reach 60 million fiber locations by 2030 through organic expansion, the Gigapower JV, and open-access agreements.

AT&T is evolving its “NetworkCo” model to optimize capital intensity and market reach.

Lumen Asset Integration: Recently acquired fiber assets from Lumen will be transferred into a JV structure. CFO Pascal Desroches expects to finalize an agreement with an equity partner for these assets in 2H 2026.
Convergence and “One Connect”: The “One Connect” platform is the cornerstone of AT&T’s converged strategy.
- Bundle Adoption: 42% of advanced home internet customers (5.68 million) also subscribe to mobile services.
- Fiber-Mobile Synergy: Among fiber-specific customers, the mobility bundle penetration rate is 40.2% (4.74 million).
The “One Connect” Roadmap: CEO John Stankey views the platform as an iterative engine, beginning with BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and eventually expanding into tailored family plans.

Analysis: AT&T’s $250B network investment to advance U.S. connectivity

AT&T and AWS to deliver last mile connectivity for AI workloads; AT&T Geo Modeler™ AI simulation tool

AT&T and Ericsson boost Cloud RAN performance with AI-native software running on Intel Xeon 6 SoC

AT&T’s convergence strategy is working as per its 3Q 2025 earnings report

AT&T deploys nationwide 5G SA while Verizon lags and T-Mobile leads

AT&T to buy spectrum licenses from EchoStar for $23 billion

AT&T grows fiber revenue 19%, 261K net fiber adds and 29.5M locations passed by its fiber optic network

Dell’Oro: Fixed Wireless Access revenues +10% in 2025 & will continue to grow 10% annually through 2029

Posted on January 14, 2026 by Alan Weissberger

5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), along with Private 5G, have become quite popular despite not being one of the ITU-R use cases for IMT 2020 (5G). According to a new report by the Dell’Oro Group, FWA is experiencing continued strong growth. The technology’s straightforward deployment and the increasing availability of 4G LTE and 5G Sub-6GHz networks are driving its adoption for both residential and enterprise connectivity. Sub‑6 GHz 5G in particular combines wide‑area coverage with better indoor penetration and capacity, making it attractive for operators as a mass‑market broadband alternative to DSL and cable.

Preliminary projections indicate that total FWA revenues—encompassing RAN equipment, residential CPE, and enterprise router and gateway revenue—are poised to grow by 10% in 2025. This advancement is fueled by mobile operators expanding FWA service availability into new markets, aiming to capture subscribers currently using DSL and cable broadband services.

“In the US, we continue to see the largest mobile operators expand their availability of FWA services in both existing and new markets, especially as FWA service revenue has boosted overall earnings,” said Jeff Heynen, Vice President with the Dell’Oro Group. “Mobile operators in India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East are taking a page from the US operators’ book and are quickly expanding their own FWA offerings, especially with the imminent threat of Starlink, Amazon, OneWeb, and other LEO satellite broadband providers,” added Heynen.

Additional highlights from the Fixed Wireless Access Infrastructure and CPE Advanced Research Report:

Total FWA subscriptions, which include residential, SMB, and large enterprises, are expected to grow steadily, surpassing 191 million by 2029.
5G Sub-6GHz and mmWave units will dominate the global residential CPE market.

About the Report:

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 forecasts for FWA subscriptions, including for both residential and enterprise markets, with the enterprise subscriptions segmented by SMB and Large Enterprise. To purchase this report, please contact us by email at [email protected].

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Independent Analysis via Perplexity.ai:

Fixed Wireless Access Schematic Diagrams

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Demand-side drivers:

Rising demand for high‑speed home and enterprise broadband, including video streaming, gaming, and cloud/SaaS, in areas poorly served by DSL or legacy cable.
Customer appetite for quick‑install, no‑truck‑roll broadband that can be activated using wireless CPE instead of waiting for fiber construction.
Growing need for reliable connectivity for remote work, distance learning, and SME digitization, especially in suburban and rural regions.

Supply-side / operator economics:

Ability to leverage existing 4G LTE macro grids and sub‑6 GHz spectrum, with incremental capex mainly in CPE and software rather than full new access builds.
Refarming of LTE spectrum and overlay of 5G NR on the same bands allows operators to run both mobile broadband and FWA on a common RAN/core.
Attractive ROI relative to fiber in low‑density areas, since one macro site at sub‑6 GHz can cover large rural or ex‑urban footprints.

Technology and spectrum factors (4G & sub‑6 GHz 5G):

4G LTE coverage ubiquity: years of investment mean LTE already reaches most urban, suburban, and many rural markets, making LTE‑FWA immediately deployable.
Sub‑6 GHz 5G propagation: better penetration through buildings and walls than higher bands, enabling more reliable indoor FWA without extensive outdoor CPE alignment.
Massive MIMO and beamforming on sub‑6 GHz bands increase sector capacity and improve non‑line‑of‑sight performance, which is critical for FWA quality at cell edge.

Competitive and regulatory drivers:

Mobile operators using FWA to attack cable and DSL bases; in several markets FWA contributes a high share of net broadband additions, pressuring incumbents on price and speed.
Government rural‑broadband programs and subsidies (e.g., U.S. RDOF‑type initiatives) encourage use of FWA as a cost‑effective tool to close the digital divide.
Regulatory allocation of additional mid‑band and sub‑6 GHz spectrum (e.g., 3–4 GHz bands) increases usable capacity and supports scaling FWA to millions of homes.

Market growth indicators:

FWA market value is growing at double‑digit CAGRs, with 4G still a large share today but 5G FWA projected to dominate new subscriptions by the late 2020s.
Sub‑6 GHz FWA gateways and CPE are a rapidly expanding device segment, driven by operator deployments targeting residential and SME broadband.

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References:

https://www.delloro.com/news/fwa-infrastructure-and-cpe-spending-will-remain-above-10-billion-annually-through-2029/

Fiber and Fixed Wireless Access are the fastest growing fixed broadband technologies in the OECD

Ookla: FWA Speed Test Results for big 3 U.S. Carriers & Wireless Connectivity Performance at Busy Airports

Point Topic: Global Broadband Subscribers in Q2 2025: 5G FWA, DSL, satellite and FTTP

Aviat Networks and Intracom Telecom partner to deliver 5G mmWave FWA in North America

T-Mobile’s growth trajectory increases: 5G FWA, Metronet acquisition and MVNO deals with Charter & Comcast

Dell’Oro: 4G and 5G FWA revenue grew 7% in 2024; MRFR: FWA worth $182.27B by 2032

Latest Ericsson Mobility Report talks up 5G SA networks and FWA

Highlights of Qualcomm 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 3; FWA and Cisco converged mobile core network

Ericsson: Over 300 million Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) connections by 2028

New Street Research study: Cable broadband will continue its decline, but total broadband access subscribers will increase

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Alan Weissberger

A recent New Street Research broadband trends study suggests that U.S. cablecos (previously called MSOs) aren’t likely to increase the net number of broadband internet subscribers during this decade, but their broadband losses are expected to decrease. The financial market research firm doesn’t anticipate cable broadband subscriber growth to be positive for at least another four to five years. Under New Street’s “base case,” cable broadband net adds will remain negative each year until 2030. Cable broadband is facing fierce competition on the high end from fiber to the premises (e.g. AT&T, Frontier/Verizon) and on the lower end from 5G FWA (e.g. T-MobileUS, Verizon).

Cable “is the new copper,” New Street Research analysts David Barden and Vikash Harlalka wrote, implying declining subscribers for xDSL based broadband will also happen to cablecos. Obviously, cablecos won’t like that characterization given that their hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks are mostly comprised of fiber. However, declining subscriber trends is not a commentary about the cable industry’s underlying broadband access network technology.

“While we expect cable losses to improve over time, we never have cable adds in aggregate turning positive,” New Street analysts David Barden and Vikash Harlalka wrote in a Tuesday report. “We think most investors agree with us and are not modeling positive subscriber growth for any of the large cable operators over the next 5 years.”

“With industry growth remaining below pre-pandemic levels and FWA adds remaining strong, we don’t expect Cable to grow subscribers this decade. Cable needs industry growth to improve and FWA adds to slow down to return to growth,” New Street’s analysts write in their 140-page report (subscribers only).

New Street outlines potential scenarios for how cable’s share of the broadband market will look by 2030:

Best case scenario – cable has 42% of the market as 84% of the market is divvied up between cable and fiber, while FWA gets 16%.
Plausible scenario – cable retains 32% share of the broadband market, with 80% of it being shared with fiber, and FWA capturing 20%.
Optimistic scenario – cable captures 50% of the broadband market, fueled by “superior marketing and cheaper mobile bundles,” compared to fiber (41%) and FWA (10%).

New Street expects cable’s “steady state terminal market share” to be just a bit higher than 40% across its footprint, down from 62% today.

The report also takes a look at how cable will fare in markets that overlap with fiber. New Street estimates that 75% of cable markets will have a fiber competitor in the years to come. When combining non-fiber and fiber markets, cable is expected to capture about 41% of the share in their footprints. That compares to fiber (34%), FWA (20%), DSL (2%) and satellite broadband (3%).

It only gets worse for cablecos, as their customer net promoter scores (NPS) [1.] are lower than their competitors (mostly telcos). Using data from Recon Analytics’ weekly survey of about 10,000 respondents, New Street’s study notes there’s a pronounced customer NPS gap for cable against its primary broadband rivals. Customer NPS scores from Comcast (2) and Charter (1) are just above water compared to Cox Communications (-1) and Optimum Communications (-8). Fiber providers are doing much better: AT&T Fiber (25), Verizon Fios (21), Frontier (17) and Lumen Fiber (1). FWA also holds a sizable customer NPS advantage: T-Mobile (31) and Verizon FWA (29).

Note 1. NPS is a customer loyalty metric that measures the likelihood of customers recommending a company to a friend or colleague, using a scale of $0$-$10$. The score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of “detractors” (those who score $0$-$6$) from the percentage of “promoters” (those who score $9$-$10$), with “passives” (those who score $7$-$8$) not being factored into the final score. NPS is a single, easy-to-understand number that ranges from $-100$ to $+100$ and is used to gauge customer satisfaction and predict business growth. Customers are asked, “On a scale of $0$-$10$, how likely are you to recommend [company] to a friend or colleague?”

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Considering all types of broadband access, New Street expects total net U.S. broadband net adds of 1.6 million, up from the 1.2 million from an earlier estimate. Fueled by fiber and FWA, net broadband subscriber adds are expected to continue above that level through 2030.

That growth will continue even as the market becomes increasingly saturated. New Street forecasts 139 million Internet households in 2030, up from 133 million at the end of 2025. Broadband penetration is expected to reach 93% by 2030, up from 87.7% at the end of 2025.

New Street expects U.S. network service providers to have 32 million to 36 million FWA subscribers in the coming years. However, the forecast expects a slight slowdown in FWA sub adds in 2026, coming in just below the range of 3.7 million to 3.8 million seen over the past three years. Next year, New Street expects FWA subscriber adds of 3.6 million (1.7 million for T-Mobile, 1 million for Verizon and 900,000 for AT&T). The analysts estimate that the carriers currently have enough capacity to support about 32 million FWA subs, estimating that carriers have already consumed about 55% of total capacity with new subs. That estimate does not include potential capacity coming from the upcoming auction of upper C-Band spectrum. That auction could provide capacity for another 4 million or so additional FWA subs, New Street said.

Reason for Negative Broadband Cable Forecasts :

Intense Competition: Cable operators are losing subscribers to FTTH, which offers faster speeds and higher reliability, and FWA services, which often appeal to customers seeking lower-priced or easily installed options.
Market Saturation and Demographics: The broadband market is becoming increasingly saturated, and a slowdown in new household formation and people moving is curbing a key driver of new broadband connections.
End of Government Subsidies: The expiration of government programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is impacting subscriber numbers, with major cable operators losing customers who relied on the subsidy.
Network Upgrades: Cable companies are investing in network upgrades, such as DOCSIS 4.0, to improve speeds and performance, but it is not yet clear if these upgrades will significantly boost subscriber numbers.

Other Analyst Opinions:

MoffettNathanson sees flattish cable broadband subscriber growth for the next couple of years, with a small gain in 2028. The firm projects subscriber losses in legacy markets will be eventually offset by gains from rural expansions and edge-out builds. “The conclusion for the two [Comcast and Charter] is about the same: even a near worst-case scenario yields roughly flat subscribership over the next five years or so,” Moffett wrote. “That’s a far cry from the doomsday scenarios we typically hear for the bear case.”

In February 2025, Wolfe Research estimated that total industry net broadband additions for 2025 would be under 2 million, with cable providers bearing much of the slowdown.
Grand View Research forecasts the global broadband services market (all connection types) to reach ~ US$ 875 billion by 2030, growing ~ 9.8% per year from 2025. In North America, broadband services revenue is expected to grow at ~ 8.3% CAGR from 2025 to 2030.
Mordor Intelligence forecasts that the global market for hybrid-fiber coaxial (HFC — the backbone for many cable networks) will grow a 7.6% CAGR from $14.96 billion in 2025 to ~ $21.58 billion in 2030.
An Ericsson analysis noted a projected decline of around 150 million DSL and cable connections globally between 2024 and 2030, with most growth coming from fiber, FWA, and satellite.

References:

https://www.lightreading.com/cable-technology/ouch-broadband-study-casts-cable-as-the-new-copper-

https://www.lightreading.com/cable-technology/cable-broadband-faces-a-flat-future-not-doomsday

https://telcomagazine.com/top10/top-10-global-fxxt-companies-in-telecoms

https://broadbandbreakfast.com/cable-unlikely-to-grow-subscribers-this-decade-new-street/

Highlights of 2025 Broadband Nation Expo: Comcast, T-Mobile keynotes + selected quotes

Dell’Oro: Abysmal revenue results continue: Ethernet Campus Switch and Worldwide Telecom Equipment + Telco Convergence Moves to Counter Cable Broadband

Cable broadband subscriber growth slows while FTTx and FWA gain ground

Aviat Networks and Intracom Telecom partner to deliver 5G mmWave FWA in North America

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Alan Weissberger

Aviat Networks, a wireless transport and access company, today announced a partnership with Intracom Telecom, a global technology systems and solutions provider, to deliver Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology using high-capacity 28 and 39 GHz millimeter wave (mmWave) bands, conforming to FCC requirements for mmWave bands intended for 5G use.

Aviat will initially focus on select North American service providers to address the growing need for multi-Gigabit consumer and enterprise 5G use cases as an alternative to the high cost, delays and complexity of using fiber, but with fiber-like performance. In addition, Aviat will offer software solutions along with a comprehensive set of design, planning, deployment and support services thanks to its extensive presence in North America.

Intracom Telecom’s WiBAS G5 platform is the only commercially available point-to-multipoint FWA solution operating in the 28 and 39 GHz mmWave bands that can address the growing demand for high-capacity Fixed Wireless Access, cost effectively delivering over 22Gbps from the same base station site, using Multi-User MIMO and Hybrid Massive Beamforming, over distances of up to 5 miles and more.

“We are very excited at this significant opportunity to extend our wireless expertise to provide advanced mmWave FWA solutions,” Pete Smith, CEO of Aviat Networks said, “Wireless can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively, and is perfectly suited to support high speed connectivity combined with excellent reliability.”

“I am very proud of Intracom Telecom’s R&D team for creating a solution that sets a new benchmark for FWA. Through this strategic partnership with Aviat Networks, we’re excited to help U.S. operators accelerate broadband expansion and deliver a true multi-gigabit experience, and more, over wireless,” said Kartlos Edilashvili, CEO of Intracom Telecom.

Image Source: Aviat Networks

In the U.S., Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile (including UScellular‘s retail wireless operations) use 28 GHz and 39 GHz millimeter wave (mmWave) bands for 5G services in densely populated areas and venues. mmWave signal propagation characteristics limit range/coverage and have a high susceptibility to blockage by physical objects and weather. These limitations significantly increase deployment costs and constrain coverage to densely populated areas.

About Aviat Networks:

Aviat, based in Austin, TX, is a leading expert in wireless transport and access solutions and works to provide dependable products, services and support to its customers. With more than one million systems sold into 170 countries worldwide, communications service providers and private network operators including state/local government, utility, federal government and defense organizations trust Aviat with their critical applications. Coupled with a long history of microwave innovations, Aviat provides a comprehensive suite of localized professional and support services enabling customers to drastically simplify both their networks and their lives. For more than 70 years, the experts at Aviat have delivered high performance products, simplified operations, and the best overall customer experience. Aviat is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.aviatnetworks.com or connect with Aviat Networks on LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Intracom Telecom:

Intracom Telecom is a global technology systems and solutions provider operating for over 45 years in the market. The company is the benchmark in fixed wireless access, and it successfully innovates in the wireless access & transmission field. Furthermore, the company offers a comprehensive software solutions portfolio and a complete range of ICT services. Intracom Telecom serves telecom operators, public authorities and large public and private enterprises. The Group maintains its own R&D and production facilities, operates subsidiaries worldwide and has been active in the North American market since 2001, through its subsidiary, Intracom Telecom USA, based in Atlanta, Georgia. The parent company is located in Athens, Greece. For more information, visit www.intracom-telecom.com

References:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aviat-networks-and-intracom-telecom-partnership-delivers-fixed-wireless-access-fwa-solutions-302566564.html

T-Mobile’s growth trajectory increases: 5G FWA, Metronet acquisition and MVNO deals with Charter & Comcast

Dell’Oro: 4G and 5G FWA revenue grew 7% in 2024; MRFR: FWA worth $182.27B by 2032

Latest Ericsson Mobility Report talks up 5G SA networks and FWA

Aviat Sells TIP compliant 5G-Ready Disaggregated Transmission Network to Africell

U.S. Home Internet prices DECLINE amidst fierce competition between wireless carriers and cablecos

Posted on June 26, 2025 by Alan Weissberger

Home internet prices in the U.S. are being driven down by fierce competition between mobile carriers offering Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and cable internet companies offering legacy Hybrid Fiber Coax connections. The increased competition has driven down the cost of home internet service, a welcome break for consumers when prices are rising for many other essential products. The price of home internet service fell 3.1% in May from a year earlier, while the overall consumer-price index rose 2.4%, according to the Labor Department.

The WSJ reports that major home-internet service providers including Verizon VZ, Comcast/Xfinity and T-Mobile launched a flurry of price-lock guarantees, promising steady rates for as long as five years. CableCos Charter, which is acquiring Cox, unveiled a three-year deal last year.

Cable companies have struggled to retain broadband internet subscribers since mobile carriers began offering more affordable 5G fixed-wireless access (FWA) internet service in 2018. FWA, which relies on over the air transmission to cell towers instead of HFC access, brought competition into markets where cable companies had long enjoyed being the only game in town. Now both types of providers are growing more aggressive to attract—and keep—customers.

“The cable companies went from gaining subscribers and raising rates every year to declining subscribers and giving people price locks,” said John Hodulik, a UBS analyst. “They’re seeing churn rise in their broadband subscriber base. And they’re trying to nip that in the bud.” Fixed wireless can sometimes cost half as much as a cable-provided internet plan. Though network congestion and other connectivity issues can be an issue for some users, the lower price point has been luring cable customers away.

T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T added a combined 3.7 million FWA customers in 2024. In sharp contrast, Comcast’s Xfinity and Charter’s Spectrum lost more than 900,000 home internet subscribers. That’s depicted in this graph:

“Our pricing wasn’t breaking through in the marketplace,” said Steve Croney, chief operating officer for Comcast’s connectivity and platforms business. He said the company’s five-year price lock, introduced in April, competes well against the telecom companies’ offerings.

Frank Boulben, chief revenue officer at Verizon’s consumer group, said his company has been trying to address the “pain points” customers have with cable companies, such as price hikes. That’s why the telco is emphasizing FWA vs its FiOS fiber to the home based service. Boulben said his company would focus on selling fiber service to customers as it becomes available to them.

Is FWA the ONLY real killer application for 5G? Even though it was NOT one of the envisioned use cases? Ericsson’s recently released Mobility Report says FWA will account for more than 35% of all new fixed broadband connections, with an expected increase to 350 million by the end of 2030. The report states that more than half of all network service providers (wireless telcos) who offer FWA now do so with “speed-based monetization benefits enhanced by 5G.”

About 80% of the global network operators sampled by Ericsson currently offer FWA, with the most rapid area of growth among CSPs (communications service providers) offering 5G-enabled speed-based tariff plans. These opportunities are about the ability to offer a range of subscriber packages with different downlink and uplink data options with 5G FWA. As with fiber deals, “increasing monetization opportunities for CSPs compared to earlier generations of FWA.” 51% of operators with FWA offerings now include these speed-based options, which is up from 40% on the same period in June 2024 and represents a 27.5% increase. The June 2024 number had grown 50% on the June 2023 equivalent.

Source: Ericsson Mobility Report

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“We are at an inflection point, where 5G and the ecosystem are set to unleash a wave of innovation,” said Erik Ekudden, Ericsson Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. “The recent advancements in 5G standalone (SA) networks, coupled with the progress in 5G-enabled devices, have led to an ecosystem poised to unlock transformative opportunities for connected creativity. Service providers have recognized this potential of 5G and are beginning to monetize it through innovative service offerings that extend beyond merely selling data plans. To fully realize the potential of 5G, it is essential to continue deploying 5G SA and to further build out mid-band sites. 5G SA capabilities serve as a catalyst for driving new business growth opportunities.”

Fixed-wireless doesn’t work everywhere. Besides congestion weak signals can make coverage spotty. If your cell phone doesn’t pick up 5G coverage smoothly, fixed-wireless from the same company probably won’t work either.

Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile are winning converts to FWA at a faster pace than many anticipated, said Jonathan Chaplin, a managing partner at equity research firm New Street Research. Charter agreed to buy Cox last month for $21.9 billion in equity and assume $12 billion of its outstanding debt, in part to acquire scale to better compete with fixed wireless access. However, fixed-wireless growth can’t last indefinitely. The wireless networks on which they run will eventually hit capacity, limiting how many subscribers they can add. Chaplin estimates the networks can support around 19 million total fixed-wireless subscribers—which he predicts they will reach in about five years, accounting for planned network expansions that the companies have announced. When that limit is reached, cable companies may regain the upper hand and keep growing their fiber customer base, Chaplin said.

The big three wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile) have all been investing in fiber-based wired networks via build-outs and acquisitions. AT&T is bringing new customers in via FWA, with the long-term goal to convert them to fiber-based service, said Erin Scarborough, who runs that company’s broadband and connectivity initiatives.

References:

https://www.wsj.com/business/telecom/a-fight-between-cable-and-wireless-providers-means-cheaper-home-internet-for-you-b36cc086

https://www.telecoms.com/5g-6g/ericsson-says-fwa-is-boosting-telco-monetization-opportunities

https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/mobility-report

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/cable-vs-wireless-war-is-driving-prices-down-062525.html

Dell’Oro: 4G and 5G FWA revenue grew 7% in 2024; MRFR: FWA worth $182.27B by 2032

Latest Ericsson Mobility Report talks up 5G SA networks and FWA

T-Mobile posts impressive wireless growth stats in 2Q-2024; fiber optic network acquisition binge to complement its FWA business

5G Advanced offers opportunities for new revenue streams; 3GPP specs for 5G FWA?

FWA a bright spot in otherwise gloomy Internet access market

Dell’Oro: 4G and 5G FWA revenue grew 7% in 2024; MRFR: FWA worth $182.27B by 2032

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Alan Weissberger

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.

About the Report

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:

Fixed Wireless Access Equipment Spend to Exceed $48 B Over the Next Five Years, According to Dell’Oro Group

https://www.delloro.com/what-to-expect-from-ran-in-2025/

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/5g-fixed-wireless-access-market-7561

https://tech.einnews.com/pr_news/776058765/5g-fixed-wireless-access-market-worth-182-27-billion-by-2032-exclusive-report-by-mrfr

Latest Ericsson Mobility Report talks up 5G SA networks (?) and FWA (!)

Fiber and Fixed Wireless Access are the fastest growing fixed broadband technologies in the OECD

Ericsson: Over 300 million Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) connections by 2028

Latest Ericsson Mobility Report talks up 5G SA networks and FWA

Posted on November 26, 2024 by Alan Weissberger

Ericsson’s November 2024 Mobility Report predicts that global 5G standalone (SA) connections will top 3.6 billion by 2030. That compares to 890 million at the end of 2023. Over that same period of time, 5G SA as a proportion of global mobile subscriptions is expected to increase from 10.5% to 38.4%, while average monthly smartphone data consumption will grow to 40 GB from 17.2 GB. By the end of the decade, 80% of total mobile data traffic will be carried by 5G networks.

That rosy forecast is in sharp contrast to the extremely slow and disappointing pace of 5G SA deployments to date. In January, Dell’Oro counted only 12 new 5G SA deployments in 2023, compared to the 18 in 2022. “The biggest surprise for 2023 was the lack of 5G SA deployments by AT&T, Verizon, British Telecom EE, Deutsche Telekom, and other Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) around the globe. As we’ve stated for years, 5G SA is required to realize 5G features like security, network slicing, and MEC to name a few.”

Fifty 5G Standalone enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) networks commercially deployed (2020 – 2023):

The report states, “Although 5G population coverage is growing worldwide, 5G mid-band is only deployed in around 30% of all sites globally outside of mainland China. Further densification is required to harness the full potential of 5G.” Among the report highlights:

Global 5G subscriptions will reach around 6.3 billion in 2030, equaling 67% of total mobile subscriptions.
5G subscriptions will overtake 4G subs in 2027.
5G is expected to carry 80% of total mobile data traffic by the end of 2030.
5G SA subscriptions are projected to reach around 3.6 billion in 2030.

Source: Ericsson Mobility Report -Nov 2024

“Service differentiation and performance-based opportunities are crucial as our industry evolves,” said Fredrik Jejdling, EVP and head of Ericsson’s networks division. “The shift towards high-performing programmable networks, enabled by openness and cloud, will empower service providers to offer and charge for services based on the value delivered, not merely data volume,” he added.

The Mobility Report provides two case studies in T-Mobile US and Finland’s Elisa – both of which have rolled out network slicing on their 5G SA networks and co-authored that section of the report:

T-Mobile has been testing a high priority network slice to carry mission-critical data during special events.
Elisa has configured a slice to support stable, high-capacity throughput for users of its premium fixed-wireless access (FWA) service, called Omakaista.

The Mobility Report doesn’t say if those two telcos are deriving any monetary benefit from network slicing, or more broadly from their 5G SA networks.

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The Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market has momentum:

Ericsson predicts FWA connections will reach 159 million this year, up from 131 million in 2023.
By 2030, connections are expected to hit 350 million, with 80% carried by 5G networks.
In four out of six regions, 83% or more wireless telcos now offer FWA.
The number of FWA service providers offering speed-based tariff plans – with downlink and uplink data parameters similar to cable or fiber offerings – has increased from 30% to 43% in the last year alone.
An updated Ericsson study of retail packages offered by mobile service providers reveals that 79% have a FWA offering.
There are 131 service providers offering FWA services over 5G, representing 54 percent of all FWA service providers.
In the past 12 months, Europe has accounted for 73%of all new 5G FWA launches globally.
Currently, 94% of service providers in the Gulf Cooperation Council region offer 5G FWA services.
In the U.S. two service providers (T-Mobile US and Verizon) originally set a goal to achieve a combined 11–13 million 5G FWA connections by 2025. After reaching this target ahead of schedule, they have now revised their goal to 20–21 million connections by 2028.
The market in India is rapidly accelerating, with 5G FWA connections reaching nearly 3 million in just over a year since launch. • An increasing number of service providers are launching FWA based on 5G standalone (SA).

References:

https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/mobility-report/reports/november-2024

https://www.ericsson.com/4ad0df/assets/local/reports-papers/mobility-report/documents/2024/ericsson-mobility-report-november-2024.pdf

https://www.telecoms.com/5g-6g/as-5g-sa-gathers-pace-ericsson-urges-telcos-to-focus-on-value-over-volume

Exploring the 5G Core Market Landscape in 2024

References:

FT: SpaceX considering Starlink Direct-to-Consumer mobile service & terrestrial cellular network infrastructure in the U.S. (See Comments below the article)

References:

Independent Analysis via Perplexity.ai:

Demand-side drivers:

Supply-side / operator economics:

Technology and spectrum factors (4G & sub‑6 GHz 5G):

Competitive and regulatory drivers:

Market growth indicators:

References:

In a related Dell’Oro post, Stefan Pongratz wrote that Dedicated FWA RAN < $1B:

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