5G Fixed Wireless Accelerates Connectivity Options for Business

FWA has been available in a 4G version for several years, but a number of elements are coming together to make this an opportune time for FWA to see a resurgence. First, and perhaps foremost, 5G has arguably finally arrived. The three U.S. wireless operators have each deployed a form of 5G mobile service that now coversthe majority of Americans. If a business is located in a metropolitan area (urban or suburban),there is very likely a 5G signal available for connectivity. Though 5G mobile service is touching more people, FWA availability and coverage have historically been a bit more narrowly defined. However, recent announcements have expanded the footprint for business FWA service rapidly. T-Mobile now offers FWA on a nationwide basis,while Verizon has passed 2 million business locations for its FWA service and is targeting 14 million locations by 2025.

While 5G signal availability is an important consideration when evaluating 5G FWA, it is only half the battle. 5G isn't a homogeneous connectivity band, and consequently, 5G FWA is not a one-size-fits-all offering. The three spectrum "flavors" of 5G allow for a graduated pricing model for FWA based on performance tiers. As noted, 5G is available on a nationwide basis via low-band spectrum, which generally represents a step increase in speed performance over most LTE service. The availability of highest-speed mmWave 5G is still rather limited due to the physics of its propagation and the economics associated with deploying widespread coverage. Butfor businesses with high-bandwidth requirements, it remains an option in the mix either via the public network if a business is located within a mmWave footprint or by working with a provider for a private deployment.