FWA keeps up the pressure on fixed broadband

Rising NBN wholesale costs for basic tiers are widening the pricing gap, accelerating FWA adoption toward 900k by FY28.

David Kennedy · Venture Insights27 September 2024Period: June 20244 min read

Last updated 6 May 2026

549,000↑

Total MNO FWA Services (June 2024)

25%↑

Telstra FWA Half-on-Half Growth (Jun-24)

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Abstract

This report analyses the resurgence of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in Australia following a 2023 slowdown. Driven by NBN wholesale price increases in December 2023 and July 2024, the pricing gap between 4G/5G FWA and entry-level NBN plans has widened, making FWA more attractive to budget-conscious households. With total MNO FWA services reaching 549,000 in June 2024, the market is on a trajectory to hit approximately 900,000 services by FY28, intensifying competitive pressure on NBN Co.

Key Takeaways

FWA growth has rebounded to 8% half-on-half, reaching 549,000 total services by June 2024.
NBN wholesale price hikes in Dec-23 and Jul-24 for Basic/Standard tiers have made FWA a more competitive budget alternative.
Telstra is the fastest-growing FWA provider, recording a 25% increase in subscribers to 85,000 in the last half.

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Frequently Asked Questions

NBN wholesale price increases in December 2023 and July 2024 have widened the price gap between fixed-line and wireless options. This shift helped total market growth rebound to 8% half-on-half, reaching 549,000 total services by June 2024.

TPG remains the volume leader with 245,000 services, but Telstra is the fastest-growing provider with a 25% subscriber increase in the last half. Optus is currently underperforming with only 2% growth, prompting aggressive discounts of up to $20 below NBN pricing.

The trend is structural, with FWA subscriptions projected to reach 900,000 by FY28. Mobile operators are incentivized to bypass NBN infrastructure to capture superior on-net margins rather than settling for lower-margin NBN resale.

Operators are positioning FWA as a budget-friendly alternative to NBN Basic and Standard tiers. Current promotions include plans priced $15 to $20 cheaper than equivalent NBN offerings to capture price-sensitive households.

Abstract

Key Takeaways

FWA growth has rebounded to 8% half-on-half, reaching 549,000 total services by June 2024.

NBN wholesale price hikes in Dec-23 and Jul-24 for Basic/Standard tiers have made FWA a more competitive budget alternative.

Telstra is the fastest-growing FWA provider, recording a 25% increase in subscribers to 85,000 in the last half.

Frequently Asked Questions

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