US Broadband Competition Is Heating Up: Fiber Surged in H2 2025, Verizon Took the FWA Lead, and Starlink Speeds Stalled
- Wireless Dealer Group
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Wireless dealers already know customers don’t shop “internet” the way they used to. Wired is no longer the only option — but it’s still often the best experience when available. A new report from consulting firm Cartesian (via Mike Dano) shows the U.S. broadband map shifting fast in the second half of 2025, with more competition, more fiber, and a reshuffling in 5G home internet.
Dealer takeaway: This is the moment to sell broadband like a fit check: “What speeds do you need, what’s available at your address, and what’s the backup when it fails?”
Choices are multiplying (wired competition is up)
Cartesian’s analysis says more than 50% of U.S. households can now choose between two or more fiber or cable companies. The report also highlights that availability of symmetrical 1 Gbps download/upload expanded faster in late 2025 than in the previous three years combined.
Dealer angle: Symmetrical gig speeds are a strong “work-from-home / creator / gaming” pitch. If a customer can get it, position wireless as the mobile + backup layer, not the primary pipe.
FWA/5G home internet expanded — mostly in mid-speed tiers
On the Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) side, the report says footprint growth was concentrated in the 25/3 to 100/20 Mbps tiers. Even so, 38% of residential locations can now access at least two FWA providers.
Dealer angle: FWA is a win when the customer needs “good enough + fast install,” especially in areas where fiber is still coming or cable is overloaded.
The broadband gap is narrowing
The report says the share of underserved locations declined in 48 states and Washington, D.C. and that unserved/underserved locations fell to 5.4%. Only about 9% of locations are now candidates for public investment.
Dealer angle: Less subsidy money over time means more customers will be pushed toward market options (fiber/cable/FWA) — and satellite will increasingly be a “last-mile” solution for the hardest rural pockets.
Footprints: Charter, Comcast, AT&T lead wired reach
Taking all wired technologies together, the report lists footprint (locations passed) as:
Charter: 43.2M
Comcast: 38.7M
AT&T: 37.4M
Verizon: 15.9M
T-Mobile: 4.4M (ranked 8th)
Fiber buildout: AT&T leads, Charter close behind
Cartesian says AT&T remained the top fiber builder, with Charter close behind. Nearly all of the top 25 fiber builders accelerated their pace in H2 2025 versus their three-year average, and many new fiber deployments went into areas that previously didn’t have fiber.
The report notes T-Mobile’s fiber expansion occurred primarily via acquisitions.
The FWA shakeup: Verizon doubled coverage and took the lead
One of the biggest shifts: the report says Verizon dominated FWA growth, doubling its coverage in H2 to surpass AT&T and T-Mobile. Much of that growth was concentrated in mid-speed locations.
Meanwhile, T-Mobile’s FWA coverage stayed nearly flat (even if customer speeds improved). The report suggests the industry’s growing focus on fiber may help explain why T-Mobile slowed down.
Satellite: Starlink is nationwide, but speeds held flat
On satellite, the report says Starlink remains the only option blanketing the whole country — but its speeds held flat at about 280/30 Mbps in H2 2025. Cable was second in reach, hitting about 80% of households.
Dealer angle: Satellite is still a “coverage everywhere” tool, but if speeds aren’t improving, it’s best positioned as a rural necessity or backup — not a first choice when fiber/cable/FWA are available.
WDG Dealer Play: The 3-Question Broadband Fit Check
What do you do online? (WFH, gaming, streaming, cameras, small business)
What’s available at your address? (fiber/cable/FWA/satellite)
What’s your backup plan? (hotspot, second ISP, battery + router plan)
Helpful WDG vendor categories
Bottom line
The Cartesian report paints a clear picture: US broadband competition accelerated in H2 2025, fiber expanded rapidly (including symmetrical gig), Verizon surged in FWA coverage, and Starlink’s nationwide satellite speeds held flat. Dealers should sell broadband as a fit check, push the right solution for the address, and always attach a backup connectivity plan for customers who can’t afford downtime.
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