Carriers Set Record With New Fixed Wireless Subscribers

On October 21 and 27, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile each released their third quarter results for 2022. Both nationwide carries posted record numbers of net subscriber additions to their fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband services. Verizon Wireless reported an impressive 342,000 fixed wireless net additions – a quarterly record for Verizon Wireless. And T-Mobile reported that it added a record high 578,000 high speed Internet customers. Although T-Mobile did not provide a specific service breakdown for that category, its record-breaking figure apparently consists primarily of net additions to its FWA services.

FWA services, which are increasingly offered using 5G networks, are particularly important for their ability to connect costly and difficult-to-reach geographic areas of the country. For more on that point, see my April 2022 Perspectives from FSF Scholars, "Fixed Wireless Access is Boosting Rural Broadband and Consumer Choice." And along with cable mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) wireless services, FWA services are a vibrant form of intermodal competition in today's communications market.