The global 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market has entered a new phase of explosive growth in 2026, with multiple research firms converging on estimates placing the market between 5 billion and nearly 0 billion depending on scope. According to The Business Research Company, the 5G FWA market grew from 9.8 billion in 2025 to 5.37 billion in 2026 — a CAGR of 28.2%. Ericsson’s 2026 FWA Handbook further confirms that 5G FWA is now the fastest-growing broadband access technology worldwide, with over 200 million FWA connections expected globally by the end of the year.
WiFi 7: The Wireless Standard Reshaping CPE Performance
One of the defining technology trends of 2026 is the rapid mainstreaming of WiFi 7 (802.11be). Benchmark data shows WiFi 7 routers now outsell WiFi 6 models by a 3-to-1 margin in Q1 2026, driven by Multi-Link Operation (MLO) that delivers up to 2.4x real-world speed gains and a 75% reduction in latency over WiFi 6. For CPE and FWA deployment, this shift is critical — operators deploying 5G FWA with WiFi 7-capable CPE can offer fiber-like experiences (up to 46 Gbps theoretical throughput) over a wireless last mile, closing the gap with fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployments.
Major chipset vendors are racing to capture this opportunity. Qualcomm’s latest 5G CPE reference designs integrate third-generation 5G modems with WiFi 7 chipsets, while MediaTek’s T750 platform continues to power cost-competitive FWA CPE worldwide. ASR Microelectronics has advanced its 5G RedCap platform for lightweight CPE applications, and ZTE’s MC8020 indoor CPE demonstrates the commercial viability of combining Qualcomm NPUs with WiFi 6 for enterprise-grade deployments. Honlly’s latest 5G CPE lineup leverages these cutting-edge chipsets to deliver multi-gigabit FWA solutions optimized for both consumer and enterprise broadband applications.
eSIM and IoT: Unlocking New CPE Deployment Models
eSIM adoption is projected to reach 1.5 billion devices globally in 2026, according to Juniper Research — a 30% year-over-year increase. Critically, the growth is being driven not by smartphones but by IoT verticals: connected logistics, smart energy metering, and industrial automation. The GSMA’s SGP.32 IoT eSIM standard, launched in 2025, enables server-push provisioning that allows operators to activate thousands of CPE and IoT devices simultaneously — a paradigm shift from the traditional pull model. This has direct implications for CPE procurement, as operators increasingly demand eSIM-ready devices that support remote SIM provisioning and multi-carrier failover. iSIM connections are also forecast to jump from 10 million in 2026 to 210 million by 2028, signaling the next evolution of embedded connectivity.
Operator Procurement Trends and the Trade Landscape
Telecom operators globally are rethinking CPE procurement strategies in 2026. Facing flat revenues and 35% EBITDA margin pressures, procurement leaders are increasingly prioritizing total cost of ownership (TCO), multi-vendor flexibility, and devices with longer lifecycle support. In the GCC region, operators are shifting from single-supplier models to more diversified, cost-transparent procurement frameworks. Meanwhile, China’s telecommunications equipment exports continue on an upward trajectory, reaching 34 billion in 2024 with steady growth into 2026, as Chinese manufacturers expand their footprint in emerging markets across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Honlly’s vertically integrated manufacturing and R&D capabilities position it strongly to support operators navigating these procurement shifts with reliable, high-performance CPE solutions.
Outlook
The convergence of 5G FWA expansion, WiFi 7 adoption, eSIM-driven IoT proliferation, and evolving operator procurement strategies is creating unprecedented demand for next-generation CPE. As broadband access becomes a critical infrastructure priority globally, Honlly remains at the forefront of delivering innovative CPE solutions that bridge the gap between mobile network evolution and fixed broadband expectations.
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