Will Fixed Wireless Access shake up the industry with 5G arrival?

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is one of 5G use cases which is currently gaining visibility in the telecommunications industry. The evolution of technology towards 5G will possibly take FWA to a new and cost-efficient level. 

For decades, users have always looked for faster and stable connections. Meanwhile, both fixed and mobile networks providers have been in the race to be the ones who offer the best service. 

Some years ago, xDSL technologies couldn’t reach and satisfy the needs of the market anymore, and FTTH became the new favorite. Fast, for sure… but more expensive, above all in some distant areas with lower population density. For this reason, some companies offered Fixed Wireless Access solutions, such as WiMAX, satellite and many others point-to-point connections. 

When 5G technology rolls out in 2020, this paradigm could shift again! The next mobile generation is set to be as transformative inside the users’ homes as it is outside, and FWA is expected to boost fixed broadband accesses even in developed markets.

Fixed wireless broadband advantages

Fixed technologies require deployment costs up to 1,000€ per user (in high populated areas this cost could be just 200€), plus the equipment cost. In the meantime, fixed wireless broadband would get rid of these costs (no civil works nor wires) and have a quicker installation. 

Although it is technically possible to bring FWA to nearly any location, it has a chance when installation is deficient, as a recent study has proven. 

Also, FWA offers a variety of other benefits, including flexible bandwidth and local service providers, which led to a more efficient and effective customer service.

And… what about performance?

The speed and quality of the service are usually the main reasons to choose fixed connections rather than wireless. Until now, optic fiber has always been able to easily beat 3G and compete with 4G. The next mobile generation, however, could lead to a revolution of fixed wireless accesses by offering much more than any current optic fiber connection. 

With 5G arrival, FWA seems to be telecommunications providers’ major focus. This is because 5G offers technology options that provide consumers with low latency (1ms) and major capacity improvements, among other benefits.

Fixed Wireless is expected to be a significant opportunity in the near future, but not only for rural areas. FWA could provide limited access areas with proper and quality services, but also it could offer a competitive alternative to fixed broadband, possibly with faster services and lower prices. 

In this regard, MedUX, as a global reference in QoE measurement and analysis, is currently providing telcos, regulators and service providers with objective information about how services are perceived by the customers. MedUX will give them enough insights to detect incidents at the end-user service level when FWA shakes up the industry!   

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