Fixed Wireless Access Becomes Bright Spot During COVID-19

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) has risen in prominence during the past year, in no small part due to the effects of COVID-19. Mobile Experts has just released a new report forecasting significant growth for fixed wireless access connections through 2026.

FWA services grew almost 20 percent yearly to more than 80 million in 2020. Mobile Experts sees that number rocketing to almost 200 million by 2026. Around 8-11 percent of FWA connections over the next five years will be served via proprietary technology primarily deployed by small operators.

“Due to COVID restrictions over the past year, many people have found themselves in need of a reliable connection from home — no matter where home is. FWA offers a much-needed substitute for addressing broadband need in underserved rural and suburban markets where other solutions are too cost-prohibitive or takes too long to deploy,” said principal analyst Kyung Mun. “The ability to connect virtually is more critical than ever, and FWA will continue to be an innovative solution for unreached areas.”

FWA equipment sales, including 802.11 based proprietary, LTE, and 5G CPE revenue, are projected to grow from $4 billion this year to more than $5.5 billion in 2026. Meanwhile, the proprietary equipment For more about this report, click here.