Petroc Taylor
Research expert covering global developments in the use of data
Get in touch with us nowFixed Wireless Access – A different approach to the last mile
The connection between a premises and the rest of the network, known as the last mile, is often made using fiber optic or copper cables. 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) is an alternative method of last mile connection, involving equipment installed directly on the customer’s premises, such as on the roof or an outside wall.The CPE uses a wireless signal to connect to the premises to nearby fixed-broadband infrastructure, and then distribute the signal to various end points across the premises using CPE, in a similar way to a modem and router used in a standard fixed line connection. Using 5G to complete the last mile connection removes the costs and time delays associated with deploying and maintaining physical lines, as well as saving the hassle subscribers often experience when having to arrange a technician to make an initial connection.
5G FWA: a growing market
FWA has been in limited use for some time, but 4G FWA is not fast or reliable enough to become a suitable replacement for standard fixed line broadband. With the speed increase 5G brings, 5G FWA could become a convergence point between mobile broadband and standard fixed line connections. Forecasts show there will be an estimated 71.82 million 5G FWA connections by 2026, and that 5G FWA could account for up to 21 percent of all connections by 2030.As of August 2021, 171 FWA CPE products were commercially available, second only to the number of 5G capable phones for the number of available devices.
The potential of FWA: greater access to high-speed broadband
5G FWA holds promise for both private and business users. For private customers, 5G FWA offers an alternative to existing options that could be cheaper and faster. For businesses, 5G FWA offers the potential to make use of 5G within their operation, without needing to deploy and maintain a private network.This is particularly useful for households that have been without access to fast fixed broadband, as physical installation is unviable, helping to reduce the share of households without fixed broadband from 68 percent in 2020 to 54 percent by 2030.
If 5G FWA can gain a steady foothold in the market, it could change permanently change the shape of the fixed broadband market.
