For the first time, fixed-line services and costs can now be met by mobile technology thanks to the rollout of 5G. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) enables network operators to deliver ultra-high-speed broadband to rural and suburban locations, serving residential and commercial applications where the expense of constructing and maintaining fibre is prohibitive. The cost and difficulty of supplying fixed broadband have continually slowed down the development of high-speed data services. Even though technologies like WiMAX tried to do away with the local loop or halt the fibre trench, these initiatives have largely failed since they required a brand-new overlay infrastructure and expensive proprietary equipment.
In contrast, 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) offers ultra-high-speed internet services to residential subscribers and commercial clients using industry-standard 3GPP architectures and common mobile components.
Since the rollout of mobile 5GNR mmWave already requires the purchase of new spectrum, right-of-way, easements, and use grants – closer to ending users than we’ve previously witnessed – telcos instinctually want to distribute the cost of installation and upkeep across as many applications as feasible. The infrastructure provided by these microcells is perfect for providing virtually universal FWA coverage, boosting Mobile Broadband (MBB) for users, and supporting massive low-latency IoT smart sensor grids for autonomous automation.
5G FWA with New Radio (NR) in the millimetre wavelength (mmWave) can be utilised as a competitive substitute for fixed-line DSL, Cable, and fibre across all markets. Now that high-definition streaming services and high-speed Internet access are possible, customers in suburban and rural locations may also access the bandwidth they require.
Mason predicts that FWA will be more likely in developing countries where fixed broadband is now rare. FWA will start to contend with slower and more expensive wireline choices in industrialised countries as well. There is already proof that there is a substantial potential global market for business relationships.
Only locations with widely available and reasonably priced wired broadband connectivity may employ FWA to allow SD-WAN traffic bursting and backup. The availability of FWA, however, may deal with a more serious problem in other locations. According to a recent Jio estimate, only 1 million of India’s roughly 51 million small businesses have access to landline broadband connectivity. This severely limits both India’s potential for economic growth and its hopes for growth. The biggest potential, meanwhile, might be in the global housing market. ITU-T estimates that only around half of the world’s 2 billion+ homes have access to fixed broadband. Those homes currently have access to nearly 90% of 4G LTE services, and as 5G rollouts accelerate, coverage may soon reach 60%.
By utilizing connectivity in the lower bands of the wireless spectrum, it is possible to quickly and economically provide an alternative to wired internet. A level of service bandwidth capacity similar to millimetre-wavelength fibre optics can be provided by 5G FWA. These narrow beams also allow for a higher user density without causing interference. Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) with external antennas can dramatically lessen signal degradation even when standard building materials, including newer forms of glass, have low mmWave penetration. In contrast to wired local loops, these could be readily self-installed by a company or residential subscriber.