Airgain CTO: Smart 5G Technology can Revolutionise Broadband
As more people become more connected around the world, the need for strong and reliable WiFi has never been greater.
One such company committed to this cause is Airgain, a leading company working in high-growth wireless technologies. Its engineering teams are dedicated to shaping the future of wireless technology and offer solutions for a range of complex wireless connectivity issues.
Mobile Magazine speaks exclusively with the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr Ali Sadri, about fixed wireless access (FWA) technology within the telco industry and how it can be utilised to meet rising demands for reliable WiFi.
How is Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology currently meeting rising demands for strong, reliable WiFi connections?
FWA addresses the growing demand for reliable internet by providing high-speed, low-latency broadband without extensive physical infrastructure. Leveraging 5G radio frequencies, FWA delivers connectivity to areas where traditional cable or fibre may not be feasible, making it valuable for remote working, telehealth and online education.
FWA, combined with advanced Wi-Fi technology (i.e., 802.11be, commonly known as Wi-Fi 7), can significantly boost customer access to high-speed wireless internet. This pairing enables faster data transfer rates, improved network efficiency, and reduced latency, allowing seamless connectivity across multiple devices within homes or businesses.
With Wi-Fi 7’s expanded bandwidth and Multi-Link Operation (MLO), users can experience the full potential of 5G FWA without the limitations of traditional wired infrastructure, ensuring consistent and reliable internet performance for activities like streaming, gaming and IoT applications.
According to Ericsson's Mobility Report, as broadband demand rises, the global FWA market is projected to reach 300 million connections by 2029. This growth is driven by increasing 5G deployments, making FWA an attractive solution for urban and rural areas. Devices like Airgain’s FWA solutions use advanced antenna technologies to ensure solid and stable connections even in challenging environments.
What are some of the wider deployment challenges of FWA?
The deployment of 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) presents several challenges, primarily due to the use of higher frequency bands compared to 4G. Operators have moved to these higher frequencies to access wider bandwidth, essential for achieving the higher throughput promised by 5G.
However, achieving high throughput also requires using higher-order modulation schemes, which are only feasible when the received signal is strong enough. One of the main drawbacks of moving to higher frequencies is the increased "free space loss," which results in more significant signal degradation over distance.
Additionally, higher frequencies are more susceptible to obstructions and more substantial fading caused by environmental factors like trees, vegetation, and modern building materials with high efficiency.
These obstacles can severely weaken the signal, making it challenging to maintain consistent high-speed connectivity, especially in densely built or heavily vegetated areas. Therefore, addressing these challenges is crucial for the success of 5G FWA deployments, often requiring advanced techniques like beamforming, repeaters, and denser cell site deployments. These challenges complicate the installation process and add significant costs for operators, primarily related to "truck rolls"—sending technicians to install and maintain devices on-site.
Airgain’s Smart Lantern FWA solution addresses this by reducing deployment costs. Users can self-install it, minimising the need for professional technicians and eliminating many truck rolls. This plug-and-play technology will drive down overall deployment costs while improving reliability. With global FWA revenues projected to exceed US$20bn by 2026 (Dell’Oro Group), cost-effective solutions like this are crucial for broader adoption.
Tell us about FWA construction.
The next generation of FWA devices feature advanced smart antenna technology, a significant leap in capability. The Smart Lantern can automatically detect the optimal signal direction and adjust the antenna beam without user intervention. This automation ensures the strongest possible signal, even as conditions like weather or interference change.
This smart technology simplifies both installation and ongoing performance optimization. Users don’t need to reposition the device or rely on installers—built-in algorithms dynamically optimise the signal, maximising speed and reliability. This feature makes FWA more user-friendly while improving connection quality and reducing operational costs.
By offering easy-to-install, cost-effective solutions with automatic signal adjustment, FWA technology reduces the need for extensive infrastructure. As FWA evolves, it’s poised to majorly expand 5G access and deliver high-speed internet to underserved areas. This technology is leading the next wave of broadband expansion.
How do FWA devices make installation simpler and reduce costs for telcos?
Devices like Airgain’s Smart Lantern simplify installation with self-install kits that reduce the need for technical expertise. Combined with automated antenna positioning, these kits eliminate the need for expensive installation crews and truck rolls. Airgain’s technology allows users or operators to manage the device remotely, optimising signal strength without requiring on-site adjustments.
These innovations reduce telco costs while enhancing accessibility. As FWA adoption grows, ABI Research forecasts it could account for 40% of all broadband connections in the US by 2025, making it a serious competitor to traditional broadband.
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