In collaboration with Ericsson and Qualcomm, T-Mobile, renowned as the ‘uncarrier,’ has undertaken a groundbreaking 5G standalone (SA) test, showcasing the potential of its millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum. The test utilized an impressive eight channels, achieving a peak download speed of 4.3 Gbps, with uplink channels combining to reach 420 Mbps.
As 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) evolves with its next phase, 5G Advanced, worldwide research indicates growth and potential for higher speeds and reduced latency. The Middle East currently showcases impressive progress with over 1.6 million 5G FWA users. Yet, debates exist over its future, exploring whether 5G FWA will remain an affordable alternative to fixed broadband or tap into its speed for new applications. Moreover, cost is a concern for Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) devices, considered a current hurdle in advancing 5G FWA.
Reliance Jio’s JioAirFiber, the breakthrough fixed-wireless access service, not only offers high-speed broadband at competitive prices, but also ventures to facilitate digital entertainment with a complimentary set-top box. With ambitions to reach 100 million customers across India, Jio appears poised to disrupt the market yet again, closely mimicking its successful 4G network rollout. Its competitors watch with bated breath, poised for an impending shake-up.
Elevated expectations surround the fixed wireless customer premises equipment (CPE) market, largely fueled by an upsurge in 5G device development. Recent data indicates over twofold growth in 5G FWA CPE shipments, predicting a robust growth of 86% in 2023. However, the fluctuating sample size in the annual survey calls for a prudent interpretation of these statistics. As the data suggests, 5G devices are set to dominate the market, with a projected rise from 29% to 40%. The swift expansion of battery-powered pocket routers promises a solid growth in the overall FWA CPE shipments, with telcos driving 77% of the market. The United States leads in leveraging the 5G technology, promising extraordinary industry advancement.
AT&T has delicately entered the 5G fixed-wireless access (FWA) industry with its Internet Air product, targeting a specific demographic and remaining wary of impacting its mobile and fibre operations. Discussing the challenges and benefits of this strategic approach, we examine its potential against market leaders T-Mobile and Verizon. Are they being too cautious? Are they possibly missing out on the emerging FWA boom in the U.S?.
In the short span since 5G’s inception, one of its most successful applications surprisingly isn’t smartphones, but Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) enhancing home broadband services. Currently dominating 90% of new US broadband subscriptions, this trend sparks intriguing implications. Yet, fiber broadband’s speed and dependability present a formidable challenge, set to increasingly permeate the market aided by ample public funding. Meanwhile, FWA’s flexible and user-friendly nature makes it a robust contender, particularly in areas where fiber is not feasible.
T-Mobile’s fruitful Q2 performance exhibits impressive growth with an increase of 760,000 postpaid phone customers and 509,000 Fixed Wireless Access home Internet customers. On the financial front, a 2.8% YoY service revenue hike pushed their accounts to $15.7 billion, despite a minor 2.6% dip in overall revenue. The telecom giant further asserted its prowess with a record low postpaid churn of 0.77%, prompting an upward revision of its yearly customer addition expectations.
Breaking speed boundaries, Ericsson and MediaTek recently achieved an impressive 565 Mbps upload speed within the consumer 5G sector, sparking excitement about the potential of fixed-wireless access (FWA). This feat was made possible through the integration of two of Ericsson’s software features and MediaTek’s T830 chipset for 5G FWA routers. The growing importance of upload speed on multiple applications including online gaming, video streaming, and cloud storage is nudging broadband consumers into creators, underscoring the significance of this development.
