We often take cellular connectivity for granted. Without it, we can’t text our friends, access email, or contact emergency services. For enterprises, a lack of mobile coverage means software tools are deemed worthless, vital communications get shut down, and operations come to a halt. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to deliver fiber-based broadband due to geographical constraints and outdated infrastructure. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a key connectivity solution that addresses these challenges as it does not require physical cable installation in a home or business.
With FWA, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have a scalable, cost-efficient way to offer customers the telecommunications services needed to function in modern society. Several major national carriers, including T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, BT Group, Telefónica, Orange, DOCOMO, Airtel, Jio, and more, have started exploring the 5G FWA market.
80% of FWA subscriptions will leverage 5G by 2030.
$44.09 Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for 5G FWA in 2025.
40.2 million 5G FWA CPE shipments annually by 2030.
Historically, 5G has been nascent in FWA networks. Indeed, 4G/Long-Term Evolution (LTE) has dominated this space, to date. But as 5G technologies have matured, it is gaining far greater prominence in fixed wireless access. ABI Research forecasts 5G to be used in 80% of all FWA subscriptions by 2030, nearly double the 54% in 2025.
The growing adoption of 5G FWA will, of course, stimulate significant demand for Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) with 5G capabilities. This will result in 5G FWA CPE shipments doubling from 20 million units in 2025 to 40 million units by 2030. On the equipment front, companies like ZTE, Nokia, Huawei, Inseego, Zyxel, and Ericsson are at the forefront of this growing sector.
What Is Fixed Wireless Access?
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a high-speed Internet connectivity solution that uses wireless networks to deliver broadband services to homes and businesses. Unlike traditional fixed broadband, which relies on fiber or cable infrastructure, FWA leverages cell towers to provide last-mile connectivity. This makes it particularly attractive for regions where deploying fiber is cost-prohibitive or geographically challenging.
Total services revenue for FWA will reach US$127.6 billion by 2030, as per ABI Research's most recent market forecast.
Top FWA Providers in the United States
The three largest MNOs providing FWA services in the United States are T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. To provide visibility into the current state of FWA, we share their Q1 2025 results:
- T-Mobile’s FWA business is booming, hitting 6.85 million connections with over 420K net adds and lower-than-expected churn. These results indicate that the Bellevue, Washington-headquartered company is on track to reach 12 million customers by Q2 2028—though its T-Fibre rollout and investments in Lumos and Metronet could shake up net adds and churn.
- Verizon has 4.85 million FWA customers and saw 308K net adds. The New York-based operator is seeing its business segment dip below 40% of the base for the first time since Q2 2024, but steady quarterly adds of 300-320K could see it hit 8 million by Q3 2028.
- AT&T surpassed 800K FWA connections with 168K net adds, boosted by better-than-expected 5G upgrades with Ericsson. This has made more regions viable for expansion and has set the stage to cross 1 million connections by Q3 2025. While AT&T still views FWA as a stop-gap for fiber, its growing potential is hard to ignore.
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5G Integration with FWA
The advent of 5G has significantly enhanced FWA’s capabilities. Three key benefits stand out:
- Higher speeds
- Lower latencies
- Greater network efficiency
Fixed wireless access has been used for consumer and enterprise connectivity for years. However, 5G integration has been relatively rare in the telecommunications industry. To understand the growing relevance of 5G FWA, consider ABI Research’s latest market forecast. Our analysts expect 5G FWA subscriptions to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 29% between 2023 and 2030.
Asia-Pacific accounts for 58% of total 5G FWA subscriptions as of 2025, with North America in a distant second at 23% of subscriptions. ABI Research forecasts that Western Europe grow at a CAGR of 37.4%, although the region will still have less than half the number of 5G FWA subscriptions as North America. The substantial growth rates of 5G FWA networks in other regions, such as the Middle East & Africa and Latin America, signals substantial technological maturity and the need to bridge the digital divide.
5G FWA Equipment Vendors
Several leading vendors supply Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for 5G FWA, catering to both consumer and enterprise markets. The competition among these vendors is driving technological advancements and expanding market reach. The key players we recently evaluated include:
- ZTE offers Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven G5 Ultra CPE, supporting both Millimeter Wave (mmWave) and sub-6 Gigahertz (GHz) bands. It has a strong market presence across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.
- Nokia specializes in mmWave technology with its 5Gmm Receiver, which enables Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) connectivity. Its FastMile gateway provides flexible, self-installable solutions for homes and businesses.
- Huawei focuses on Reduced Capability (RedCap) and self-designed chipsets for the 5G FWA market. Its AI-powered CPE solutions are widely used in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
- Inseego develops high-end solutions with strong enterprise management features, leveraging Qualcomm’s latest chipset technology.
- Zyxel provides a mix of indoor and outdoor CPE solutions, with a strong foothold in the European market. Its Nebula cloud management platform supports its offerings.
- Ericsson emphasizes enterprise applications with its Cradlepoint X10 Series router, which prioritizes network security and reliability in the U.S. market.
Future Outlook for FWA
The advancement of 5G FWA is being driven by several key technologies that enhance performance, coverage, and cost-efficiency. With strong backing from leading CPE vendors and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like RedCap and mmWave, FWA is set to play a pivotal role in the future of global broadband.
- 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap): Originally designed for IoT applications, RedCap is now being adopted for FWA CPE in cost-sensitive markets. It offers a lower-cost alternative, while maintaining adequate connectivity performance. Companies like Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Huawei are actively developing RedCap solutions.
- Millimeter Wave (mmWave): With mid-band spectrum congestion increasing, mmWave is becoming essential for extending 5G FWA coverage. High-gain outdoor CPE, such as Nokia’s solutions, make mmWave more viable for remote locations lacking fiber infrastructure.
- Outdoor CPE: The demand for outdoor CPE is increasing, as it ensures better service quality in rural and hard-to-reach areas. While it accounted for just 8% of total CPE shipments in 2023, it is expected to reach 12% by 2029. Vendors are increasingly optimizing outdoor solutions to provide reliable high-speed Internet.
As consumers and enterprises increasingly adopt advanced technologies, 5G FWA is a crucial enabler of worldwide digital transformation. ABI Research plans to stay on top of the latest market developments to support CPE vendors and MNOs in their business strategy. Download the free whitepaper Seizing the 5G FWA Opportunity: Key Insights for MNOs and Equipment Vendors today for our latest findings.
