5G FWA CPE Market - Strategic Insights and Forecasts (2026-2031)

The global 5G FWA CPE market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.2%, reaching USD 2.6 billion in 2031 from USD 1.6 billion in 2026.

5G FWA CPE Market Growth Drivers:

• The cost-effective nature of FWA has propelled the market demand for 5G technology.

5G's arrival has made it possible for wireless networks to compete against xDSL, cable, and satellite for delivering high-speed broadband services to commercial and residential areas at an affordable price. The way forward with this is by using FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) to connect subscribers to the communication network. FWA is becoming an ideal option for operators due to its cost-effective nature. Witnessing its higher broadband performance, the demand and usage of FWA in 5G are rapidly increasing.

According to the white paper by Samsung in December 2022, 5G FWA mmWave offers cost savings of up to 65% in rural areas, 45% in suburban areas, and 25% in urban areas. Hence, due to its straightforward implementation and flexibility, FWA is becoming a viable alternative, causing a demand boom. For instance, according to the “2023 Wireless Access CPE Market Survey” done by the Global Mobile Suppliers Association, in 2022, the 5G FWA CPE shipments witnessed a remarkable year-on-year growth of 111%, with shipments reaching up to 7.4 million. 

• Growing investments in the Mid-Frequency band have stimulated market growth

The mid-band spectrum, which has a frequency of 3.5 to 3.5 GHz, is an essential part of 5G applications as it uses citywide high-capacity coverage and holds a significant data load. Unlike the high-frequency band, which carries more data, the signal frequency doesn’t travel as far as in mid-band frequencies.

According to Nokia, governments are already interested in expanding the mid-band spectrum to address the 5G and 5G-advanced demand. Countries like China are at the forefront of this technology and are already implementing mid-band, having frequencies of 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz. Major telecom operators in the USA, namely T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, are investing in mid-band installation in their cell towers and are planning to increase their installation scope in the coming years.

5G FWA CPE Market Product Offerings:

Strategic collaboration and launches are taking place in major countries, thereby enhancing their FWA mid-band frequency. For instance,

• In March 2024, AT&T launched “AT&T Internet Air For Business”, which is a fixed wireless service powered by America’s reliable and flexible 5G networks and would be used by small, medium, and large enterprises in establishing their network diversity with their customers, employees, and suppliers.

• In May 2022, US Cellular formed an agreement with Ericsson to help the former in accelerating the enhancement of its 3.45GHz and C-band spectrum. This would bolster US Cellular’s 5G networks in America, thereby providing new growth prospects for enhanced FWA.

5G FWA CPE Market Segment Analysis:

• Urban & Sub-Urban

The 5G FWA CPE market, based on settings, is segmented into urban & suburban, and rural, where the former is set to hold a notable market share during the projected period. The demand for high-speed bandwidth is high in urban & suburban regions. It is highly fueled by the growing establishment of commercial offices, factories, and workstations where continuous interaction and data gathering happen daily. Moreover, the smart city initiatives implementation, followed by investments in connected devices and advancements in internet-based services, has further led to a substantial increase in 5G FWA demand in urban areas.

• mmWave

Based on the band, the FWA CPE market is analyzed into mmWave and Sub-6 GHz, where the former is projected to show significant growth during the forecast period. This is fueled by the growing investment in mm-wave broadband, backed up by government initiatives to bolster the following adoption by telecom operators.

For instance, in May 2024, Ericsson, in collaboration with Qualcomm and Dronus, demonstrated the use of a 5G mmWave-connected drone for indoor missions in Ericsson’s USA smart factory. The drone used Ericsson’s on-premise 5G network and was powered by Qualcomm’s “QRB5165” processor with integrated 5G mmWave.

Geographical Outlook:

The global 5G FWA CPE market consists of major countries undertaking various measures to secure their 5G network. Europe is expected to have a high CAGR during the projected timeframe. Furthermore, many nations have undertaken various measures that have complemented the overall market growth. For instance:

Key Developments:

Some of the leading players in the market include Verizon, Cisco, Nokia, and Samsung, among others. These firms have undertaken various business strategies such as product launches, investments, and partnerships to expand their product offerings. For instance,

• In February 2024, Nokia launched its new 5G outdoor mmWave receiver which is field-tested to support FWA technology. The receiver would enhance the network capacity and broadband coverage in rural, urban, and suburban areas. The product is the first mmWave FWA solution that enables operators to avoid expensive track rolls, is easy to install, and works in non-line-of-sight conditions.

• In February 2023, Cisco, in partnership with T-Mobile launched its MG51 and MG51E 5G mobile gateways from Cisco Meraki. The 5G cellular gateway offers scalable and reliable network-managed services for small to large size businesses, thereby enhancing their network growth and enabling them to enjoy the benefits of cloud-native “Cisco Meraki”.

5G FWA CPE Market Scope: