The global 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) market size is expected to reach $88.5 billion by 2027 according to a new study by Polaris Market Research. Delivering fixed broadband to get high-speed data services and key technologies such as WiMAX for superior data speed have seemed to fail because they required highly expensive overlay infrastructure and proprietary equipment. However, 5G FWA deploys only general mobile components and standard 3GPP architectures to offer high-speed data connection services to the enterprise and home customers. Coinciding with the Polaris report, 5G Americas said that after three years of growth, global wireless 5G adoption has reached the “rapid acceleration phase,” having exceeded a halfbillion connections at the end of 2021 and forecast to reach 1.3 billion by the end of this year, according to data from Omdia compiled on behalf of 5G Americas. “We are now out of the opening stages of this generation of wireless cellular technology, as 5G is rapidly getting into the hands of consumers and businesses, who are finding innovative new ways to use mobile connectivity,” said 5G Americas president Chris Pearson. Major drivers of 5G FWA cited in the Polaris report include rising demand for high-speed internet connectivity and wide network coverage with minimal power consumption and latency along with the growing adoption of advanced technologies including IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. In addition, increasing deployment of millimeter-wave technology in 5G FWA contributes to the market growth, said Polaris. And a June 2020 Nokia study showed 5G FWA is a “highly demanded” 5G use case that is demonstrated among customers worldwide. The study was conducted by Park Associates and it surveyed approximately 3,000 people across as the United States, United Kingdom and South Korea. The result of the Nokia study revealed substantial opportunities for mobile operators to compete with broadband service providers through their offering of 5G FWA to businesses and homes. The most recent data from Omdia shows the world added 303 million 5G connections year over year, representing a 139 percent increase from 218 million to 521 million, and sequentially 19 percent growth quarter over quarter from 437 million in the third quarter of 2021 to 521 million in the fourth quarter. According to Omdia’s forecast, 5G is expected to double to 1.3 billion connections in 2022, nearly double again in 2023 to 2 billion connections and reach 4.8 billion by the end of 2026. Of that, 516 million are expected to come from North America and 301 million from Latin America and the Caribbean. 5G Reaches ‘Rapid Acceleration’ Phase By Bruce Christian 5G and 4G LTE Network Deployments 5G • Global: 216 • North America: 12 • Caribbean and Latin America: 22 4G • Global: 698 • North America: 19 • Caribbean and Latin America: 127 Source: Omdial 5G Americas 58 CHANNELV ISION | MARCH - APRIL 2022 MOBILE & WIRELESS
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