FWA technology’s share to grow to nearly 16% in US broadband services
market in 2028, forecasts GlobalData
Fixed wireless access (FWA) technology for broadband internet continues
to attract new users and is expected to more than double its
subscription market share among US fixed broadband technologies,
expanding from a 7.2% share in 2023 to 15.8% in 2028, according to
GlobalData [1], a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s updated report, “United States Fixed Communications
Forecast [2],” reveals that despite its rapid adoption, FWA will
remain ranked in third place behind cable and fiber subscriptions.
Tammy Parker, Principal Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Easy self-
installation and affordability, combined with high reliability and
performance, thanks to underlying 5G technology, are among FWA’s
selling points, but so is the fact that FWA offers a new service choice
versus existing solutions from incumbent service providers.
Additionally, FWA is suitable for both primary and backup internet
service and can be deployed in locations where internet service may only
be needed temporarily.”
Cable technology will lose market share over the next five years but
will retain its dominant grip on the US fixed communications market,
representing 58% of total broadband access lines in 2028. However, cable
faces rising competition from 5G FWA networks deployed by mobile network
operators as well as rollouts of new fiber-optic networks.
Parker adds: “Fiber presents a significant challenge as it is highly
reliable and can deliver the symmetrical multigigabit speeds that are
increasingly demanded by consumers and businesses. Additionally, fiber
deployment is gaining momentum as government subsidies lead to an
unprecedented expansion of the nation’s fiber broadband
infrastructure, leading this technology’s share of the market to grow
from 19.5% in 2023 to 24.7% in 2028.”
Cable operators are upgrading their hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks
with new DOCSIS 4.0 technology that is expected to support 10 Gbps
downstream and up to 6 Gbps upstream capacity, which will help cable
technology retain a dominant market share. However, some cable operators
are starting to roll out their own fiber networks, particularly in
‘edge out’ situations where they expand their service footprints
into nearby neighborhoods and communities, and this will also help boost
fiber technology’s market share.
Parker concludes: “Total US broadband services revenue is expected to
increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2%, from $102.9
billion in 2023 to $126.3 billion in 2028. Service revenue for FWA will
grow at a CAGR of 24.8% during the same period, while cable’s service
revenue will rise at a 1.5% CAGR, and fiber’s will increase at a 9.1%
CAGR.”
