Page 29 - SAMENA ELITE - July-September 2024

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FWA Could Boost UK Economy to the Tune of £4bn – Report

from around 100 in April 2023.

Stats coming out of Australia last
month revealed that the number of
FWA users has almost doubled over
the past two years to 510,000 as of the
end of 2023.

And just last week, Odido saw fit to
launch the Netherlands' first FWA
service, despite the fact that the
country has one of the most extensive
fibre footprints in Europe.

UKWISPA, which advocates on behalf
of FWA providers, understandably
wants the technology to thrive in
the UK as well, and has made five
policy recommendations for the
The UK Wireless Internet Service put too heavy an emphasis on fibre, government to consider.
Providers Association (UKWISPA) has without considering the benefits of
called on the government to consider alternative technologies, namely FWA. They include ensuring that FWA
more widespread use of fixed wireless is considered alongside fixed
access (FWA) to meet its Project Going wireless promises to extend the broadband tech when the
Gigabit targets. benefits of high-speed broadband government plans future market
more rapidly and cost-effectively interventions, and recognising that
A report carried out on the lobby than fixed, UKWISPA said, delivering FWA as a competitor to fibre can put
group's behalf by Intelligens instantaneous connectivity, especially downward pressure on prices for end
Consulting claims that the country in hard-to-reach areas. users.
could reap up to £4 billion worth
of economic benefits from the While UKWISPA concedes that current UKWISPA also wants the government
technology. FWA services do not deliver gigabit to ensure fair spectrum allocation for
speeds, it argues that such is the wireless broadband providers, and
The figure can be broken down into pace of technological development consider dedicated FWA spectrum
£1 billion of savings from rolling out that this won't necessarily always be channels.
connectivity faster and more cost- the case.
effectively, and generating £3 billion Furthermore, the lobby group has
from rural and remote households "This report highlights the huge role called on the government to make
signing up to FWA services. of FWA alongside fibre in achieving it easier for smaller providers to sell
the UK's ambitions to provide services to the public sector.
Under Project Gigabit, the government comprehensive access to gigabit
has doled out more than £1 billion broadband connectivity," said "UK infrastructure investors, the DSIT
from a total budget of £5 billion to UKWISPA chairman David Burns. "Not (Department for Science, Innovation
extend gigabit-capable broadband only can roll-out be accelerated, and Technology), Ofcom and BDUK
to unserved areas. It's going pretty but both urban and rural locations (Broadband Delivery UK) are all slowly
well so far – gigabit broadband can get their enhanced connectivity realising the untapped potential
coverage reached 81% in January, sooner, and at less cost." that FWA has in accelerating gigabit
and is on track to hit the government's Internet rollout, and the advantages
target of 85% by 2025. Ericsson's most recent Mobility Report when built alongside fibre networks,"
revealed that there are 130 million Burns said. "This report sets out key
However, UKWISPA's report suggests FWA connections worldwide, and that areas and policy directions that can
that the government has to date 128 telcos have launched services, up maximise this opportunity for the UK."

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