FWA: Long-term play or short-term stopgap? Depends who you ask.

AT&T is ramping up its efforts around fixed wireless (FWA) access this year, but doesn’t seem to have changed its mind that the tech is fundamentally a bridge to better things. However, not everyone shares the view that FWA should be relegated to a stopgap. AT&T AVP Angela Wilkin highlighted AT&T’s efforts to expand its Internet Air consumer FWA product across the parts of 48 states and the operator's introduction of a business version of the tech earlier this year. However, when asked what the long-term strategy for Internet Air is, she said that “in a lot of cases, it’s a bridge” for customers—particularly those on legacy copper lines—until they gain access to fiber. That said, she acknowledged that, at least in some areas, relief from fiber will never come. And in those few instances, customers could continue to use Internet Air.