According to a report by GlobalData, fixed wireless access (FWA) connections in India are projected to reach 21.4 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.4 per cent during 2025-30. The rising demand for high-speed broadband in regions with inadequate fibre coverage and the positioning of FWA as a credible alternative to wired broadband are key growth enablers.
The report highlights that Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel currently market commercial 5G fixed broadband services and together serve nearly 12 million users. Jio, with 9.5 million subscribers in third quarter (Q3) 2025, has emerged as the world’s largest 5G FWA operator.
Further, with limited monetisation avenues for 5G, FWA has become a critical revenue driver for telecom operators. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) also plans to launch 5G FWA after the rollout of its commercial network. The operator had trialled its quantum 5G FWA service in Hyderabad in June 2025, achieving near 1-gigabits per second (Gbps) download speeds and offering self-install customer premises equipment (CPE) capable of reaching about 85 per cent of households without fibre deployment.
Meanwhile, Airtel aims to expand its home broadband base through FWA, while Jio is leveraging a dedicated 5G network slice for its AirFiber offering, supported by automated, technology-neutral infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled operations, with a target of connecting 100 million homes through FWA and fibre.
Use cases across residential and business environments such as smart homes, small and medium enterprise (SME) connectivity, remote learning, and telemedicine are also set to bolster FWA growth over the forecast period.
The report further indicates that the increasing availability and continued rollout of 5G networks by leading telecom operators will support wider adoption and expansion of FWA services across the country.
