Verizon CTO compares fiber to fixed wireless access

Both Verizon and T-Mobile have been touting fixed wireless access of late as a way to help close the digital divide, take market share from cable companies, and reap new revenues. But the fixed wireless access players are being questioned about the desirability of wireless as compared to fiber. The analysts at Cowen recently hosted Verizon CTO Kyle Malady, who admitted that fixed wireless is not fiber-like. But Verizon also has experience with fiber via its Fios product, which has been in place for eight years. Malady noted that consumers do not use or need anything remotely close to the 1 Gbps speeds that FiOS provides. The Cowen analysts said that fixed wireless providers need to improve their consumer marketing. Currently, consumers seem to equate speed with quality and reliability. Of Malady’s comment about speeds, the Cowen analysts said, “We note this ‘more than enough speed’ stance has been endorsed by various [broadband providers] for years, and a valid point, yet a point that needs to be articulated effectively to consumers.”