According to a November 10 report by ABI Research, "in 2026, the FWA [Fixed Wireless Access] market will exceed 180 million subscriptions and generate US$70 billion in revenue." It forecasts quick 5G FWA rollouts in North America because it can be deployed faster to subscribers and for less capital expenditures compared to fiber-to-the-home. Thus: "In 2026, North American and Europe combined will represent nearly 60% of global 5G FWA subscriptions." While these figures aren't specific to the United States, one ought to expect this country to be the leader in 5G FWA deployment. And the press release for ABI's report acknowledges that Verizon is an early adopter of 5G FWA using mmWave band spectrum, with U.S. Cellular also planning to deploy in the mmWave band.
The future of 5G FWA looks bright in the U.S. with T-Mobile and AT&T both making offerings available. And an October 26 blog post by Free State Foundation Legal Fellow Andrew Magloughlin highlighted the Verizon-Amazon deal for rural backhaul that will deliver Verizon's fixed wireless service. In the months ahead, expect FSF scholars to have more to say on 5G FWA and its implications for competition policy.
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