T-Mobile Reports First Quarter Surge in Fixed Wireless Access Subscribers

On April 27, T-Mobile reported that it gained 338,000 fixed wireless access (FWA) subscribers during the first quarter of 2022. T-Mobile ended the quarter with 984,000 FWA subscribers, and it reportedly has plans to gain as many as 7-8 million total FWA subscribers by 2025. 

This strong quarterly growth in T-Mobile's FWA subscribership was anticipated in my April 25 Perspectives from FSF Scholars, "Fixed Wireless Access is Boosting Rural Broadband and Consumer Choice." That Perspectives focused on the tremendous potential for 5G-enabled FWA services to connect several million Americans in rural and small markets within the next few years. And FWA also could enhance competition in more populous local markets that already are served by fiber and cable broadband providers. 

 

As revealed by first quarter gains in fixed wireless subscribers by T-Mobile – and also by Verizon, 2022 is shaping up to be a big year for FWA. For more on the future of 5G-enabled FWA and policy priorities for ensuring that fixed wireless timely achieves its full potential to connect Americans to broadband, see my Perspectives. Free State Foundation Legal Fellow Andrew Magloughlin and I also touch on the competitive outlook and consumer benefits of FWA in our Perspectives, "The Broadband Internet Services Market in January 2022: 5G, Cable, Fixed Wireless, Wi-Fi 6, and Fiber are Benefitting Consumers."