Solving Current Connectivity Challenges by Expediating the Deployment of Fixed Wireless Broadband Solutions

By Telecom Tech Outlook | Wednesday, December 16, 2020

FWA infrastructure is not just a short-term fix and should be seen as an integral part of the digital growth and digital infrastructure of each country as identified by ITU and is now part of technology-neutral national broadband deployments in global markets.

Fremont, CA: Working and studying from home during COVID-19 resulted in unprecedented growth in global Internet traffic over a short period of time. While most data networks see an annual rise of 30 to 45 per cent, some countries have seen rises of up to 40 per cent from previous data use levels over a few weeks.Although it is too early to assess the effect on long-term demand, the new normal could be a much higher demand for bandwidth than the previous levels. Key questions for telecommunications operators are what the current "day-to-day" demand is, does it differ between days of the week and when are the new peaks?

Although some short-term approaches are feasible, for example, Netflix, YouTube and Amazon limit video streaming quality globally to minimize network congestion or provide additional temporary spectrum, such as in the US, better solutions exist. In particular, the rapid introduction of 4G/5G fixed wireless access (FWA) networks to I provide coverage where there is no fixed network and (ii) to satisfy this increased demand rapidly, should be explored by providers, industry regulators and governments.

4G/5G FWA Solutions Offer an Excellent Solution

Instead of short-term approaches, the introduction of 4G/5G FWA networks offers more robust fibre-like solutions. They offer a unique value proposition, including high-speed connectivity, low-latency, zero-touch, plug-and-play, quick delivery, flexible tariffs and affordability. FWA will efficiently meet the needs of home-based work, remote education, telemedicine and where appropriate, support health services for coronavirus spread prevention and care of patients. They will instantly solve societal problems, including offering communication, helping to produce income and reducing social isolation, and more.