Extracted version
Fixed Wireless Access handbook
Insights
ericsson.com/
fwa-insights
2024
Insight 1 of 6
5G FWA momentum creating
global economies of scale
2 Extracted version Ericsson | Fixed Wireless Access Insights
FWA to reach 330 million
connections by 2029
There will be more than 130 million FWA connections by the end of 2023.
The number of FWA connections worldwide is forecasted to grow and reach
330 million by 2029, generating about USD 75 billion in service provider
revenues. The 330 million connections represent 18 percent of all fixed
broadband connections.
5G FWA connections are expected to grow FWA data traffic is projected to
to around 280 million by 2029, representing
grow by more than five times APAC 2029
almost 85 percent of FWA connections. The
45%
forecast considers the high ambitions of 5G By the end of 2023, the FWA data traffic
FWA in emerging markets, increasing the represented 19 percent of the global
number of connections and the share of 5G mobile network data traffic. The FWA data
FWA connections. Higher volumes of 5G traffic is projected to grow more than five
FWA in large high-growth countries such times to reach almost 159 EB in 2029,
as India can drive economies of scale for estimated to be close to 30 percent of total
the overall 5G FWA ecosystem, resulting in mobile network data traffic. The number FWA share of traffic
affordable CPE that will positively impact of FWA connections in APAC is expected
30%
low-income markets. to triple, increasing its share of global FWA
connections to above 45 percent by 2029.
FWA connections (millions)
FWA connections (millions)
5G FWA connections 4G and other technology FWA connections
400
300
200
100
0
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029
Source: Ericsson and GSA, 2023
3 Extracted version Ericsson | Fixed Wireless Access Insights
Strong 5G FWA
traction across all
continents
5G FWA is being launched across all continents and is
the most popular 5G use case after MBB.
In North America, Verizon and T-Mobile connections reported by TRA, Oman’s 200 thousand connections during 2023.
are reporting strong 5G FWA uptake, which national telecom regulator), Saudi Arabia, There have been several 5G FWA launches
has accelerated connection growth, adding and the UAE. In some of these markets, in emerging markets – across Latin
around 900 thousand connections service providers are actively marketing America, the Middle East and Africa, and
per quarter. home internet solutions based on either Asia-Pacific – where many unconnected
Although many service providers are fiber or 5G FWA, as well as migrating 4G and underserved homes could benefit from
launching 5G FWA in Europe, market FWA connections to 5G FWA. fast, reliable FWA-delivered broadband.
uptake has been concentrated in certain There is also strong 5G FWA traction in Among emerging markets with 5G FWA
regions (such as the Nordics, Italy, and Japan, with DoCoMo reporting strong 5G launches, India’s Reliance Jio recently
the UK). Some service provider groups, FWA connection growth since launching committed to connecting 100 million
including Telenor Norway, use 5G FWA to services in late 2021. In Australia, strong homes and SMEs with 5G FWA. This latest
decommission their copper networks. 5G FWA growth is being reported by all announcement is important for India and
The Middle East has a strong 5G FWA service providers, including Telstra, Optus, the overall 5G FWA market as it brings
momentum, particularly in Oman (5G FWA NBN, and TPG, with the latter surpassing scale to the ecosystem.
Reported connections 000s
Norway
3.4× 191
4,235 56
TMUS
2Q20 4Q20 2Q21 4Q21 2Q22 4Q22 2Q23
10× DoCoMo 825
11×
422
75
3Q214Q211Q222Q223Q224Q221Q232Q233Q23 3Q214Q211Q222Q223Q224Q221Q232Q233Q23
Jio
100,000
Verizon 2,679
TPG
209
19× Oman 11×
169
4.5× 19
139 38
2Q21 4Q21 2Q22 4Q22 2Q23
3Q214Q211Q222Q223Q224Q221Q232Q233Q23 2Q213Q214Q211Q222Q223Q224Q22 Committed
Source: latest operator and regulator publicly reported data
Source: latest service provider and regulator publicly reported data
4 Extracted version Ericsson | Fixed Wireless Access Insights
Global 5G FWA
adoption reaches
50 percent
As seen in the past three years, the number Regarding regional variations, there is 5G, and 90 percent in terms of FWA speed-
of service providers offering FWA is a difference in the proportion of service based offerings. Furthermore, Western
growing. In 2023, the global FWA service providers adopting FWA. In North America, Europe has the second highest FWA
provider adoption is almost 80 percent. Western Europe, Central and Eastern adoption at 96 percent, with 73 percent
The growth trend is also seen for both 5G Europe, and Middle East and Africa regions, providing 5G FWA offerings and about 31
FWA and when it comes to speed-based over 80 percent of service providers are percent offering speed-based tier plans.
tariff plans. There are 121 service providers offering FWA. In contrast, in other regions, As mentioned, Latin America has just
offering services over 5G, representing 50 such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America, over 50 percent of service providers offering
percent of FWA service providers. About the FWA service provider adoption is FWA and quite a low percentage offering
30 percent of the FWA service providers 64 percent and 51 percent, respectively. services over 5G. However, in terms of
also offer speed-based tariff plans. The North America stands out with speed-based, Latin America has the second
remaining 70 percent are still best-effort 100 percent FWA service provider highest adoption, with over 40 percent
with volume-based tariff plans. adoption, 80 percent of services are over offering speed-based tariff plans.
Global FWA service provider Regional FWA service
adoption 2020–2023 provider adoption 2023
90%
80%
73%
50%
60%
43% 41%
37% 31%
30% 26%
25% 41%
25% 25%
23%
13%
14%
Source: Ericsson Mobility Report Nov 2023
5 Extracted version Ericsson | Fixed Wireless Access Insights
FWA capturing +90%
of net adds in the US
600 T-Mobile (FWA)
Verizon (FWA)
500 AT&T (FWA)
Verizon (wireline)
Fixed 400 Charter (cable)
broadband AT&T (wireline)
net adds
(‘000s) 300 Comcast (cable)
Altice (cable)
200
100
-100
1Q21 2Q21 3Q21 4Q21 1Q22 2Q22 3Q22 4Q22 1Q23 2Q23 3Q23
Source: Public service
FWA net adds % 11% 12% 23% 43% 53% 110% 95% 93% 92% 98% 95% provider information
FWA is capturing more than 90 percent 2023 and reported 25k FWA connections in of 3Q23, T-Mobile had 4.2 million FWA
of the fixed broadband net adds in the US Q3 2023. T-Mobile and Verizon have shown connections, with a 2.1 million connection
since 2Q2022. a growth trend in broadband net adds per growth compared to 3Q22. Verizon
As of November 2023, AT&T, T-Mobile, quarter since Q1 2021. has a 2025 goal of 4-5 million FWA
and Verizon, the three largest mobile Verizon and T-Mobile FWA net adds connections. As of 3Q23 it is at 2.7 million
service providers in the US, are together supporting 2025 FWA connection targets. connections, of which more than 1 million
capturing 95% of the broadband net adds. T-Mobile has announced goals to reach for business internet connections, with a
AT&T launched their FWA services in August 7-8 million FWA connections by 2025. As 1.6 million growth compared to 3Q22.
6 Extracted version Ericsson | Fixed Wireless Access Insights
5G FWA adoption
accelerating in
emerging markets
51 commercial 5G FWA in emerging markets
11
1 16
2 5
2
8 2
1
1
In November 2022, there were 88 service launches came from emerging markets.
55%
providers with 5G FWA offerings, and 33 This is an increase compared to the
(38 percent) were in emerging markets. previous year, with 40 percent of 5G FWA
As of November 2023, the numbers launches coming from emerging markets.
have increased to 121 service providers During the last year, 18 service
worldwide with 5G FWA offerings, of providers in emerging markets have of all new 5G FWA
which 51 (42 percent) are in emerging launched FWA services over 5G. These
markets (as illustrated on the world map). launches have been made in highly launches during the
A majority of these service providers are
found in the Middle East, with 16 service
populated countries such as India, Brazil,
and Nigeria. The strongest growth is seen
last year came from
providers offering 5G FWA services. Sub- in Sub-Saharan Africa, with eight new 5G emerging markets
Saharan Africa is the region coming in FWA launches in the past 12 months. In
second place with 12 service providers India, two major service providers have
offering 5G FWA services. launched 5G FWA services and expressed
5G FWA adoption is accelerating in very high ambitions of serving homes and
emerging markets, where, in the past 12 businesses with 5G FWA services in the
months, 55 percent of the new 5G FWA coming years.
Source: Ericsson Mobility Report Nov 2023.
Learn more in six actionable
insights on capturing the
value of 5G FWA
ericsson.com/fwa-insights
Ericsson The content of this document is subject to revision without © Ericsson 2023
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Telephone +46 10 719 0000 manufacturing. Ericsson shall have no liability for any error or
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