Ericsson Hails 5G FWA Adoption

Ericsson said there's a growing momentum for 5G-enabled fixed wireless access (FWA). The vendor stated that more than half of global operators now offer speed-based monetization supported by the technology.

The latest edition of its Mobility Report revealed that 51% of providers (CSPs) with FWA services now offer 5G-enabled speed-based plans, up from 40% last year. The shift is apparently driven by increased adoption of the technology across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Ericsson stated that 5G FWA allows service providers to create packages with varying data speeds and enhanced entertainment options, resembling fiber or cable offerings, improving its monetization potential. The company also forecasts that FWA will account for more than 35% of new fixed broadband connections globally, rising to 350 million by 2030. Indeed, 5G FWA was found to play a pivotal role in extending broadband access in areas where traditional wired deployment is unfeasible.

The report also predicted that 5G subscriptions will reach 2.9 billion by the end of 2025, comprising nearly one-third of all mobile subscriptions. The total is expected to reach 6.3 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, mobile data traffic jumped 19% year-on-year in 1Q25, with 5G networks expected to handle 80% of global traffic by the end of the decade. The predicted figure marks a significant leap, as 5G networks have handled only 35% of global mobile traffic by the end of 2024.

Ericsson also highlighted the growing uptake of SA 5G and 5G Advanced networks as key enablers of monetization, allowing CSPs to go beyond data volume and offer differentiated connectivity services across sectors such as events, media production, gaming, and retail. Ericsson’s senior VP and CTO Erik Ekudden described the sector as being at an inflection point, where 5G and the ecosystem are set to unleash a wave of innovation. To this end, he urged operators to accelerate SA 5G deployments and mid-band site build-outs to unlock new commercial opportunities.