Bridge the digital divide by utilizing fixed wireless access, no matter your location
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, a new player is emerging as a potential game-changer in connecting communities currently lacking reliable, high-speed internet: Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). This technology, particularly with the deployment of 5G and emerging 6G networks, is offering fiber-comparable high speeds and low latency, making it a strong candidate for bridging the digital divide in remote and underserved areas.
The current state of FWA is highly advanced, thanks to key technologies such as millimeter waves, massive MIMO, and improved Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) devices supporting Wi-Fi 6/7 and multi-device usage. These advancements have driven rapid growth in the FWA market, with the number of operators offering 5G FWA increasing from 41 to 567 worldwide in the past three years.
In the United States, FWA is viewed as a cost-effective alternative to fiber for reaching rural and remote residential customers and enterprises where laying fiber is economically or logistically challenging. Although challenges such as signal propagation through buildings and across longer distances exist, they can be mitigated with optimized antenna designs and network deployment strategies.
Similarly, in Indonesia, with its vast archipelagic geography and many underserved rural communities, FWA could support closing connectivity gaps by providing flexible, scalable broadband. Although specific data on Indonesia was not directly found, the global trend of rapid FWA adoption and the technology's suitability for difficult geography strongly suggest high potential there.
Looking to the future, the continued rollout of 5G—and later 6G—networks, improvements in FWA hardware affordability, and integration with IoT, telemedicine, smart education, and edge computing will further enhance FWA’s role in digital inclusion. The growing ecosystem of AI-powered network deployment tools, expanded spectrum availability, and innovative business models will support wider adoption in both countries.
One company at the forefront of this revolution is ZTE, whose FWA technology incorporates AI to optimize performance and prioritize bandwidth allocation for specific applications, delivering a 20 percent boost in bandwidth efficiency and reducing network congestion by 30 percent. ZTE's FWA technology is also packaged into devices for IoT and vehicle applications, further boosting its position in the FWA market.
The pandemic has highlighted the potential of online education, but not everyone was able to benefit due to digital divide issues. FWA has been used to bring broadband access to Finland's sparsely populated islands, with over 400,000 5G FWA users connected. Researchers from Universitas Cahaya Prima in Indonesia have studied digitalization and education equity in remote areas, showing that children and teachers need both the right devices and stable internet access for online education.
As we move forward, it is clear that FWA technology, with its potential to deliver fiber-comparable speeds and low latency, will play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide, especially in remote and underserved areas. The dramatic market growth, technological advances, and policy support will significantly expand FWA’s role in connecting communities over the next decade.
- The emergence of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology in the technology landscape is seen as a potent contender for linking communities with poor internet access, capitalizing on the deployment of 5G and 6G networks.
- With millimeter waves, massive MIMO, and advanced Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) devices supporting Wi-Fi 6/7 and multi-device usage, the FWA market is experiencing exponential growth, with the number of operators offering 5G FWA increasing significantly.
- In the United States, FWA is regarded as a cost-effective alternative to fiber for connecting rural and remote residential customers and enterprises where fiber installation is uneconomical or impractical.
- In Indonesia, with its expansive archipelagic geography and numerous underserved rural communities, FWA could bridge connectivity gaps by providing flexible, scalable broadband.
- AI-powered FWA technology, such as ZTE's, is poised to optimize performance and prioritize bandwidth allocation for specific applications, making it a critical factor in digital inclusion initiatives.
- Online education can be enhanced with the deployment of FWA technology, particularly in remote areas with limited internet access, ensuring that everyone, including children and teachers in Indonesia, has the devices and stable internet connections required for learning.
