mmWave FWA: Leading the Future of Broadband Access and Maximizing the Value of 5G-A Networks

With the widespread adoption of 5G communication technology, fixed wireless access (FWA) has emerged as the first successful business scenario in the 5G era. In the 5G-A era, with the enhanced end-to-end capabilities of the network, this service will generate substantial returns on investment for operators. Global FWA connections are expected to grow from 160 million in 2024 to 350 million by 2030—an increase of over 118%—with the total number of connections accounting for nearly 20% of global fixed broadband connections. Among these, 80% of connections will be supported by 5G-A networks, revealing huge market potential.

Currently, FWA deployment relies predominantly on mid-to-low bands. The data usage of FWA users is usually several times higher than that of mobile users, making network capacity improvement crucial to ensure service quality for both FWA and mobile users. Millimeter wave (mmWave)-based FWA is the most effective way to enhance capacity. Data from a major sports event shows that low bands carried 8% of the data traffic, mid-frequency bands handled 41%, while high-frequency bands carried as much as 51%, demonstrating exceptional capacity support.

mmWave is characterized by large bandwidth, high transmission rates, and low interference, and the global end-to-end industry chain is relatively mature. mmWave FWA is gradually becoming the mainstream form of fixed broadband access.

mmWave FWA: Leading the Ultimate Performance and User Experience

The large bandwidth and serialized solutions of mmWave effectively enhance network performance, providing users with a better experience.

• Ultra-Broadband, Ultra-High Speed

With the strong support of large bandwidth and massive antenna technology, mmWave FWA is capable of delivering exceptionally high transmission speeds. ZTE, in collaboration with Malaysian operators, achieved field test speeds exceeding 30 Gbps. This remarkable performance pushes the user's online experience to new heights, providing robust support for home and small-to-medium business applications. For bandwidth-intensive applications such as high-definition video streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing, where broadband demands are extremely high, mmWave FWA undoubtedly offers unparalleled performance.

• End-to-End Collaboration, Overcoming Coverage Challenges

Due to its higher frequencies, mmWave has weaker physical propagation characteristics than lower frequencies, making mmWave network coverage a challenging issue. Leveraging its latest end-to-end system solutions, ZTE is able to effectively compensate for the coverage limitations of mmWave, significantly enhancing coverage capabilities. This reduces costs and improves efficiency for mmWave FWA's commercial applications and also accelerates its deployment.

In 2023, ZTE conducted field tests of mmWave ultra-long coverage performance with a leading Thai operator, achieving an impressive 2.25 Gbps downlink speed over a distance of 11 km.

Furthermore, mmWave FWA does not require acquiring right-of-way, digging trenches, or penetrating walls. Deploying 5G mmWave FWA can dramatically shorten deployment times, which is crucial for connecting remote areas and quickly meeting market demands.

• A Series of Solutions Ensuring Optimal Performance

Through continuous exploration and validation, ZTE has developed a comprehensive mmWave FWA deployment solution, successfully transitioning from best-effort performance to deterministic performance assurance. By leveraging intelligent solutions such as DeepEdge, smart PBR, and Smart Steering within the base station, ZTE ensures deterministic assurance for FWA services and an exceptional user experience.

• Multiple Product Series to Fulfill the Varied Needs of Customers

After years of research and development, ZTE now offers multiple mmWave products series for various scenarios: the macro base station for outdoor macro coverage, supporting 1.6 GHz ultra-large bandwidth, which is the industry's first; the innovative intermediate-frequency pooled small cell solution MiCell, designed for indoor coverage in factories, offices, and CBDs; and the mobile CampSite base station, tailored for high-heat and emergency scenarios, enabling rapid deployment within one hour and supporting large-capacity installations.

ZTE Facilitating Scaled mmWave FWA Deployment

ZTE has successfully achieved large-scale 5G deployment globally. In Europe, we have supported an operator in actively developing mmWave FWA services, resulting in a steady 2% annual increase in average revenue per user (ARPU) over the past three years.  ZTE is dedicated to helping operators use mmWave FWA to provide convenient broadband services for users, while driving strong commercial returns and enhancing brand value.

With its remarkable features such as high speeds and large bandwidth, mmWave FWA is well-positioned to meet the strong growth demands of future services like high-definition video and big data. Through continuous innovation in end-to-end solutions, ZTE has rapidly deployed mmWave FWA and significantly improved network performance. mmWave FWA will serve society more effectively, spreading digital value, transforming lifestyles, and opening new commercial avenues.