For the first time, more than half of the world’s regions reported that over 50 percent of 2024 FWA CPE shipments were 5G-enabled.
This is a leap from last year, when only the U.S. and India crossed the 50 percent threshold. Now, China and the Rest of Asia-Pacific (RoAPAC) join the 5G majority, with North America and India leading at 93 percent and 92 percent respectively, according to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) 4G–5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Forum’s 2025 market survey.
Key Market Growth Figures
26 percent Shipment Growth in 2025: Total FWA CPE shipments are forecast to reach 35.3 million units in 2025, up from 28 million in 2024, the GSA report said.
5G CPE Takes the Lead: 5G-enabled FWA CPE shipments are expected to hit 20.1 million in 2025, representing 57 percent of total shipments.
Regional Leaders: Asia-Pacific accounted for 35 percent of 2024 shipments, followed by the Middle East & Africa at 30 percent.
mmWave Momentum: mmWave-capable 5G CPE shipments are projected to grow 47 percent year-over-year to surpass 1 million units in 2025.
5G SA Adoption: Support for 5G Standalone (SA) technology reached 95 percent of 2024 shipments and is forecast to grow to 17.7 million units in 2025.
Innovation Drivers: AI, 5G RedCap, and 8RX
The survey highlights growing innovation in FWA CPE design:
AI Integration: Most vendors believe AI will enhance 5G connectivity performance and user experience.
5G RedCap: 18 percent of vendors already offer 5G RedCap FWA products, and 41 percent plan to introduce them in 2025.
8RX Support: Over 50 percent of vendors either have or plan to launch 8RX-capable devices in 2025 for better throughput and reliability.
Main FWA CPE vendors
ZTE
ZTE has been recognized as a leading 5G FWA CPE vendor, surpassing competitors like Nokia and Huawei in both innovation and implementation criteria, according to ABI Research’s 2025 competitive ranking.
Nokia
Nokia continues to be a significant player in the 5G FWA CPE market, with its products being widely adopted across various regions.
Huawei
Huawei remains a key supplier of 5G FWA CPE solutions, contributing to the global expansion of 5G broadband services.
Vantiva (formerly Technicolor)
Vantiva’s Cobra 5G router has been certified by T-Mobile in North America, enabling MVNOs to deploy it for enhanced 5G connectivity solutions.
InHand Networks
InHand Networks is gaining traction as businesses increasingly adopt its 5G CPE solutions for primary connectivity, moving away from traditional fiber options.
Sercomm
Sercomm is actively participating in the development of 5G RedCap-capable FWA products, with 41 percent of vendors in the GSA survey expecting to introduce such devices in 2025.
Gemtek Technology
Gemtek Technology is expanding its 5G FWA CPE offerings, with a focus on mmWave-capable devices and AI-enhanced performance features.
Arcadyan Technology
Arcadyan Technology is enhancing its product portfolio to include 5G FWA CPE devices with 8RX support, aligning with the industry’s trend towards higher throughput capabilities.
Casa Systems
Casa Systems is focusing on providing scalable 5G FWA CPE solutions to meet the growing demand for high-speed internet connectivity in both urban and rural areas.
Qualcomm
Qualcomm continues to be a key player in the 5G FWA CPE market, supplying chipsets that enable advanced features like 5G Standalone (SA) and mmWave support.
Market Outlook
John Yazlle, vice-chairman of the GSA 4G–5G FWA Forum, noted that the data underscores the “global momentum and scale of 5G,” with mmWave technology proving valuable in dense urban, enterprise, and rural connectivity scenarios. With 5G-Advanced on the horizon and more spectrum availability, the partnership between FWA CPE vendors and operators is expected to keep driving innovation and global broadband expansion.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
