Dell’Oro Group’s latest forecast paints a sobering picture for telecom equipment vendors: global operator CapEx is expected to decline 2% in 2026, continuing a multi-year trend of tightening budgets. With operators under pressure to maintain network expansion while reducing capital expenditure, CPE procurement strategy has become a critical lever for cost optimization — and an area where smart sourcing decisions can unlock millions in savings.
The CapEx Squeeze: Why CPE Matters More Than Ever
While overall CapEx is declining, operators are not reducing their broadband ambitions. In fact, fixed wireless access (FWA) deployments continue to accelerate, 5G SA rollouts are expanding, and fiber-to-the-home projects are receiving government subsidies worldwide. The budget squeeze is falling disproportionately on the equipment side — forcing procurement teams to do more with less.
CPE represents a significant portion of operator deployment costs, particularly for FWA and broadband projects where every connected household requires a device. For a mid-sized operator deploying 100,000 CPE units, even a $10 per-unit cost reduction translates to $1 million in direct savings — while also improving the business case for network expansion.
Strategy 1: Multi-Chipset Sourcing
One of the most effective ways to optimize CPE costs is to diversify chipset sourcing. Rather than locking into a single silicon vendor (e.g., Qualcomm only), operators can work with OEM partners that offer multi-chipset platforms — including MediaTek, ASR, and ZTE — to match device performance with segment requirements. A fixed wireless CPE for basic broadband in a rural market does not need the same chipset as a premium multi-gigabit router for urban deployments.
Honlly’s approach: By maintaining reference designs across Qualcomm, MediaTek, ASR, and ZTE platforms, Honlly gives operators the flexibility to choose the right chipset for each market segment — without sacrificing carrier-grade quality or certification readiness.
Strategy 2: Standardized Remote Management
CPE devices that support TR-069 (CWMP) and the newer TR-369 (USP) remote management protocols dramatically reduce operational expenditure (OPEX) by enabling zero-touch provisioning, remote diagnostics, and over-the-air firmware updates. For operators, the OPEX savings from remote management often exceed the initial CPE cost difference within the first year of deployment.
When evaluating CPE vendors, operators should prioritize those with mature ACS integration experience and pre-tested TR-069/TR-369 implementations — particularly if deploying across multiple regions with different management platforms.
Strategy 3: OEM Partnerships Over Proprietary Lock-In
Proprietary CPE from large network equipment vendors often comes with premium pricing and limited customization options. By contrast, working directly with an OEM partner allows operators to customize branding, packaging, and even hardware specifications — while typically achieving 20-40% cost savings compared to branded alternatives.
The key is selecting an OEM with the right certifications (CE, FCC, PTCRB, IC), a proven track record of carrier deployments, and the engineering capability to adapt designs to regional requirements. Honlly’s portfolio of 14 certified CPE models spanning 5G, CAT6, CAT4, outdoor, and MiFi categories provides operators with a one-stop sourcing partner.
Strategy 4: Regional Certification Readiness
Time-to-market is a hidden cost in CPE procurement. Devices that require extensive re-certification for new markets can delay deployments by 3-6 months. Working with an OEM that already holds certifications for target regions — CE for Europe, FCC for North America, PTCRB for operator acceptance, IC for Canada — eliminates this bottleneck and accelerates revenue generation.
The Bottom Line
In a CapEx-constrained environment, the operators that win are those that treat CPE procurement as a strategic function — not a commodity purchase. By diversifying chipset sourcing, prioritizing remote management capabilities, partnering directly with OEMs, and ensuring certification readiness, operators can maintain network expansion momentum while keeping budgets in check.
发表评论