5G FWA CPE Market Grew 18.2 Percent, Reaching a New Peak in 2025

Global 5G FWA CPE shipments increased 18.2% YoY in 2025, reaching a new peak, according to Counterpoint Research. The market continued its strong performance, driven by global FWA subscriber growth. 5G FWA is now well-positioned to function as a viable alternative or complement to existing fixed broadband solutions.

A key driver for the 5G FWA market includes the ability to monetize existing 5G networks, with operators able to deliver broadband access beyond the limits of fixed broadband networks. Bridging the digital divide and delivering connectivity to underserved broadband areas is also a key driver for the FWA market, with strong governmental and operator support in a range of countries. Despite these drivers, differing regulatory environments have led to a fragmented market, with vendor performance varying in different geographies.

Nokia gained the lead in a fragmented 5G FWA market in terms of shipments, primarily due to strong performance in India, the US, and parts of EMEA. While Nokia performed strongly in terms of shipments, low margins have led to a strategic decision to begin transitioning its FWA CPE division and prioritizing higher margin segments. This presents an opportunity for competitors to serve Nokia’s operator partners in the long term. ZTE and Huawei rounded out the top 3, despite no presence in the US and Indian markets, through strong performance in EMEA and SEA.

Arcadyan, WNC, and Sagemcom followed with strong performance in Western Europe and the US, delivering more complex solutions to their customers, serving a more premium subscriber base. The 5G FWA market remained fragmented, with regional dynamics and regulations greatly impacting vendor performance. No vendor has maintained a large lead as the market enters a critical time for operator-vendor partnerships; selecting the correct partners will be critical for success.

“Through 2025, 5G has cemented its position as the dominant technology for FWA, making up over 80% of shipments. As 5G FWA chipset prices have declined, ASP reductions have enabled 5G FWA CPE to remain competitive against fixed broadband alternatives. Increasing memory costs remain a concern for both FWA and fixed CPE, with edge AI integration likely to be delayed. Within the home, Wi-Fi 6 is currently the dominant technology, with Wi-Fi 7 uptake expected to accelerate rapidly in the near future, driving the next round of replacement as operators look to improve the home network experience,” said Taimur Zafar, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research. “AI integration and advanced software services are the new point of differentiation, with operators requiring increasingly complex solutions to increase ARPU and reduce churn. Major vendors, including Huawei, ZTE, WNC, and Sagemcom, are developing their own software portfolios, but smaller CPE vendors may need to partner with software specialists to deliver compelling solutions. FWA is now moving beyond simply providing connectivity to enabling smart home experiences.”

“FWA deployments in 2025 have primarily remained focused in the US, India, and parts of Asia, EMEA, and LATAM. The US remains a key market for FWA, with FTTH deployments proving costly in rural and suburban areas. The prevalence of DOCSIS enables 5G FWA to remain more competitive, even in areas with fixed broadband connectivity. India has become another key market for FWA, with the technology deployed at scale to bring connectivity to underserved broadband areas. This strategy is enabling Indian ISPs to expand their customer base beyond the limits of their physical networks in preparation for future FTTH rollouts,” said Tina Lu, Principal Analyst at Counterpoint Research. “Other countries, such as Indonesia, are following a similar model to India, with FWA and FTTH deployed in conjunction to bridge the digital divide. 4G FWA remains relevant in parts of Africa, LATAM, and Asia, but will decline as 5G infrastructure expansion continues in these regions.”