Many mature broadband markets are reaching the point of full household penetration, resulting in higher competition among broadband operators. But what about those in underserved markets where the last mile is still needed? ABI Research recently published its Broadband Operator Strategies in a Saturated Broadband Market report, detailing insights to this question.
ABI Research forecasts that smart WiFi and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) will become critical solutions to enhancing existing broadband services and supporting connectivity. Smart WiFi and FWA are also expected to drive WiFi mesh and 5G FWA Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE) unit shipments to reach 40.6 million and 14.6 million units respectively in 2025.
Khin Sandi Lynn, Industry Analyst at ABI Research, explains how providers can supply a better user experience as the number of connected devices per household increases. “Reliable WiFi is crucial as video streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing applications are booming, especially in saturated markets,” said Lynn. “Operators are responding to the demand by supplying customers with CPE that have mesh systems and higher WiFi standards such as WiFi 6 to support the whole home experience.”
Lynn added that, “WiFi mesh systems are gaining popularity for complete home WiFi coverage and to support network management tools such as parental control, device level traffic control, and self-diagnosis in case of technical issues. These features will continue to drive the adoption of mesh devices in residential broadband services.”
Worldwide broadband providers are already adding FWA services to support connectivity in high-density, urban areas. Operators that have deployed the technology include Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, and Vodafone. British Telecom has also launched Hybrid Connect, a solution enabling all the devices within a home to connect to FWA in case of a technical problem in the fixed broadband.
According to Lynn, operators need to consider value-added services for the future, such as internet and home security applications and smart-home solutions. “Ultimately, service providers need to embrace advanced technology and take advantage of their strong relationship with existing broadband customers to win their business goals,” Lynn said.
She advises that providers should invest in “efficient software solutions to understand user behavior” and deploy “artificial intelligence and machine learning data analysis tools” to achieve goals related to “network optimization, preventive maintenance, and sales and marketing strategies.”
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