Fixed Wireless Access projected to grow dramatically, but it still has problems

There’s a huge opportunity for fixed wireless access (FWA) growth around the world, and that opportunity has been especially highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Counterpoint Research Senior Analyst Tina Lu said only 45% of households worldwide had broadband at the end of 2019. But if Chinese households are removed from the equation, only 28% of global households are connected to broadband. “This is the primary drive to the growth of FWA,” said Lu. “Also Covid-19 is making broadband a priority. It’s not just a luxury. It’s a need.” Counterpoint Research predicts 60 million users for both 4G and 5G FWA by the end of 2020, with 10 million of those being 5G FWA users. “The U.S. is driving the growth of FWA with deployment of mmWave in metro areas and CBRS in the rural areas,” said Lu. Counterpoint predicts the number of FWA users to grow from 60 million to 200 million by 2025. However, FWA does face challenges.