Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) continues to grow in appeal to communications service providers (CSPs) around the world, with the ability to offer speed-based tariff plans – enhanced by 5G capabilities – proving particularly attractive, the June 2025 Ericsson Mobility Report shows.
While about 80 percent of the global CSPs sampled by Ericsson currently offer FWA services, the most rapid area of growth continues to be among CSPs offering 5G-enabled speed-based tariff plans
With 5G FWA, service providers are able to offer a range of subscriber packages with different data speeds and entertainment options – similar to cable or fiber offerings – increasing monetization opportunities for CSPs compared to earlier generations of FWA.
The June 2025 Ericsson Mobility Report (EMR) shows that more than half (51 percent) of global CSPs with FWA offerings, now include speed-based options – up from 40 percent on the same period in June 2024 – driven by high adoption in North America, and growth in Europe and the Middle East.
FWA is projected to account for more than 35 percent of new fixed broadband connections, with an expected increase to 350 million by the end of 2030. 5G FWA plays a crucial role in expanding broadband access, especially in areas where traditional wired infrastructure may be less feasible.
On 5G subscriptions, the June 2025 Ericsson Mobility Report forecasts subscriptions to top 2.9 billion globally by the end of 2025 – about one third of all mobile subscriptions. The 5G subscription forecast for the end of 2030 remains at 6.3 billion.
Mobile network data traffic increased by 19 percent from the first quarter of 2024 to the corresponding period in 2025. Despite a declining growth rate, net added traffic will continue to increase year-on-year, with the June 2025 EMR forecasting that mobile data traffic will more than double through the forecast period through the end of 2030.
5G networks handled 35 percent of global mobile traffic by the end of 2024, with forecasters expecting the figure to top 80 percent by the end of 2030.
In Europe, 5G mid-band coverage topped 50 percent population coverage by the end of 2024. While the figure puts the region in line with the global average, it lags far behind frontrunner countries such as North America where 5G mid-band deployment has topped 90 percent population coverage, and India where 5G mid-band population coverage reached 95 percent by the end of 2024.
Through commentary, insights and customer/partner case stories, the June 2025 EMR highlights the ability of 5G Standalone (5G SA) and 5G Advanced to create monetization opportunities for CSPs globally based on value delivery rather than data volume.
The report highlights how CSPs are pursuing new commercial opportunities by offering differentiated connectivity services to consumers, enterprises and public authorities. Use cases include broadcast/video production, point of sale systems, events/arenas, gaming, fixed wireless access, virtual private networks, and enterprise productivity.
Erik Ekudden, Ericsson Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, says: “We are at an inflection point, where 5G and the ecosystem are set to unleash a wave of innovation. The recent advancements in 5G standalone (SA) networks, coupled with the progress in 5G-enabled devices, have led to an ecosystem poised to unlock transformative opportunities for connected creativity.”
He adds: “Service providers have recognized this potential of 5G and are beginning to monetize it through innovative service offerings that extend beyond merely selling data plans. To fully realize the potential of 5G, it is essential to continue deploying 5G SA and to further build out mid-band sites. 5G SA capabilities serve as a catalyst for driving new business growth opportunities.”
India Overview:
India continues to see rapid 5G adoption, underpinned by strong population coverage, increasing data consumption, and accelerating Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) deployments. By the end of 2024, 5G subscriptions in the country reached 290 million, representing 24 percent of total mobile subscriptions. This figure is projected to climb to around 980 million by 2030, accounting for 75 percent of all mobile subscriptions.
Data traffic per smartphone user in India currently stands at 32 GB per month, the highest in the world and is projected to grow to 62 GB per month by 2030, further reinforcing the need for robust 5G infrastructure. While 4G remains the dominant subscription type at 53 percent as of end-2024, it is forecast to decline to 230 million subscriptions by 2030, as users continue migrating to 5G.
India’s 5G journey is scaling rapidly, reflecting the country’s ambition to build a digitally inclusive and future-ready society. This growth momentum is fueled by surging data demand, extensive mid-band spectrum coverage, rapid 5G smartphone adoption, and large-scale 5G FWA deployments. The strong need for accessible broadband, especially in rural and semi-urban regions, is driving service providers to expand their 5G FWA footprints at pace. The 5G mid-band spectrum available in India is well-suited to deliver both capacity and coverage, ensuring an enhanced user experience for Indian mobile subscribers.
Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India, says: “At Ericsson, we are proud to support the country’s digitalization based on the strong 4G and 5G infrastructure that we have set up in the country together with our partners, the communication service providers that is enabling connectivity and driving inclusive growth in the country”.
Based on unique Ericsson and partner network insights, the Ericsson Mobility Report has been the key industry reference for network data, performance, statistics, and forecasts since its launch in 2011.
 of global CSPs with FWA offerings, now include speed-based options.){kind=link}