Reliance Jio Leads in Fixed Wireless Access Deployment: Emkay Global

According to a report by Emkay Global Financial Services, Reliance Jio is leading its competitors in the preparation for fixed wireless access (FWA) deployment due to its extensive 5G coverage, access to wider-spectrum bands, and improved fibre infrastructure. With a $25 billion investment in 5G, including $5-6 billion for fixed wireless access, the company has shown a significant commitment to new technology. While Reliance Jio has an advantage in broadband services deployment, the report suggests that Airtel may catch up as it expands its 5G coverage. With a large number of Indian households currently unserved with wired broadband, the rollout of fixed wireless access via 5G services could provide a significant opportunity for telecom operators. Using radio frequencies instead of cables, FWA technology enables fixed broadband access to homes that were previously not covered by wireline broadband. The report suggests that the increasing number of households moving into the upper-mid income and high-income segments offers significant potential for FWA deployment. Of the 293 million households in India, 70 million are in the upper-mid income and high-income segments, which are expected to increase to 200 million households by 2030. The report estimates that of these households, only 33 million are currently connected by wireline broadband, leaving a significant opportunity for FWA to serve areas unserved by fixed wireline broadband.