AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Break Broadband Duopoly With 17 Million FWA Users
Updated
Updated · PhoneArena · May 23
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Break Broadband Duopoly With 17 Million FWA Users
1 articles · Updated · PhoneArena · May 23
T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T have amassed roughly 17 million fixed wireless access customers, turning wireless carriers into a meaningful third force in U.S. home broadband.
T-Mobile leads with more than 9 million subscribers, while Verizon had 5.7 million at the end of 2025 and AT&T 2.3 million at the end of the last quarter.
That growth is widening consumer choice beyond cable and fiber, with carriers pushing FWA through both postpaid and prepaid brands and offering plug-and-play service without installation visits.
Starlink adds another challenger, with more than 9 million subscribers globally and an estimated 3 million in the U.S., giving broadband competition a reach not limited by local network footprints.
As satellite and 5G internet surge, can traditional cable providers innovate fast enough to survive the new competition?
With satellites soon connecting directly to phones, are traditional mobile networks on the verge of becoming obsolete?
While Starlink connects the globe, are we ignoring the growing environmental and astronomical risks from its satellite mega-constellations?
U.S. Broadband in 2025-2026: FWA’s Rapid Growth, Satellite Disruption, and the New Era of Competition and Consumer Choice
Overview
The U.S. broadband market is experiencing a major transformation in late 2025 and early 2026, driven by the rise of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). Competition has moved beyond traditional phone services, with broadband bundles and multi-product relationships now at the center. Satellite-based FWA, especially Starlink, is making a big impact by addressing the digital divide and delivering strong broadband speeds, even in underserved areas like Nebraska. This shift is reshaping the competitive landscape, as new technologies and service models challenge the old cable and telco duopoly, leading to more choices and better connectivity for consumers.