My April 25 Perspectives from FSF Scholars, "Fixed Wireless Access is Boosting Rural Broadband and Consumer Choice" highlighted the potential for 5G-enabled fixed wireless access (FWA) services to fast and affordable bring broadband connectivity to several million Americans in rural and small markets within the next few years. The Perspectives observed strong first quarter 2022 FWA subscriber additions for Verizon as confirming evidence of that potential. And my April 30 blog post spotlighted strong quarterly results in FWA service subscriber additions for T-Mobile.
And there are other news items regarding 5G-enabled FWA's outlook. According to one report, at the end of the first quarter of 2022, Verizon and T-Mobile combined have over 1.4 million subscribers to their FWA services. Moreover, on April 28, Telecompetitor reported that UScellular's Home Internet+ fixed wireless is now offered in 10 markets. It is reported that UScellular has an average of 400 MHz of spectrum in those markets. Plus, UScellular has plans to expand to "dozens" of new markets in 2022. Additionally, the Chairman of DISH Network reportedly stated that there is potential for DISH to make competitive entry in the FWA services market to reach rural America.
For more on FWA services as an important technology platform for helping to close the digital divide and connect all Americans, check out my Perspectives.
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