The global 5G FWA market is expected to be valued at USD 29.4 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 153.0 billion by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 39.0% during the forecast period. The increasing adoption of advanced technologies such as machine-to-machine (M2M) & IoT and the rising use of millimeter-wave technology for 5G FWA is expected to drive the growth of the 5G fixed wireless access market. However, the high costs of infrastructures and the adverse impact of millimeter wave technology on the environment are restraints for market growth.
The 5G FWA market includes major Tier I and II players like Nokia (Finland), Samsung Electronics (South Korea), Huawei Technologies (China), Ericsson (Sweden), Inseego (US), and others. These players have a strong market presence for 5G FWA across various countries in North America, Europe, APAC, and RoW.
5G FWA market for services to hold the highest market share during the forecast period 5G FWA services are predicted to be a game-changer in the global telecommunication industry. These services have been made available to households in 2022 across major countries like the US, Canada, China, South Korea, etc. For instance, Samsung and T3 broadband collaborated on 5G-ready Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network solutions to Mercury Broadband, a leading provider of high-speed Internet across rural markets in the US. The collaboration will enable Mercury to leverage CBRS to deliver FWA broadband connectivity and enhanced customer services in hard-to-reach, remote areas across several states. Verizon has also increased the number of cities where it offers 5G fixed wireless for business customers from 3 to 24. Previously, the FWA 5G service was only available in select parts of Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles. The new additions include parts of 21 cities where its 5G Ultra-Wideband service using mmWave spectrum is available.
24-39 GHz operating frequency for 5G FWA to hold the highest market share in 2028 The game-changing breakthrough of 5G mmWave extended range increases the capacity of 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) solutions by making it possible to employ mmWave spectrum to serve a far greater number of residences than previously conceivable. By using this strategy, it is possible to reach semi-urban and rural areas by providing high-end "wireless fiber" services. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and US Cellular operators use the mmWave spectrum in their 5G network infrastructures. Though the mmWave spectrum can transmit massive volumes of data at high speed, this band's signals can only travel a few thousand feet. As a result, mmWave 5G infrastructures have mostly been confined to crowded downtown areas and are not expected to reach suburban or rural areas anytime soon.
Semi-urban demography for 5G FWA to hold the highest market share from 2023 to 2028 In semi-urban areas, the density of the population is sparse. Hence, these areas require significantly high investments to connect subscribers with a network through wireline infrastructures. With high-power transmissions/reception and advanced antenna technologies, wireless links can effectively reach rural areas without any major construction work required, as only base stations and customer premises equipment require installation. Nokia is one of the key players making efforts to offer FWA solutions to users, along with the hardware components necessary to connect new rural and suburban areas.
