In our fast-paced digital era, the demand for high-speed internet connectivity continues to surge, prompting the exploration of advanced technologies to meet this need. Especially the rural and semi-rural areas that are still experiencing low VHCN network penetration rates, will be challenged to meet the demanding objectives of European Unions’ digital compass.
Gigabit to the home can be delivered from a “toolchest” of technologies allowing room for synergies between wired and wireless solutions to address the connectivity and service needs of the end users. When it comes to the Fixed Wireless Access, then the millimeter wave spectrum, by offering very large contiguous blocks of spectrum, has the potential to deliver significant benefits by enabling large increases in wireless data capacity and speeds.
More specifically the use of 26.5-29.5 GHz bands is gaining traction for Gigabit to the Home (GttH) applications through both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) systems. In this article we will present the capabilities of such FWA solutions that are able to overcome the challenges of mmW spectrum and deliver GttH even at distances longer than 6 km from the hub site.
Globally, there has been a collaborative effort to bring about a new era of ultra-fast internet connectivity through Gigabit to the Home (GttH) initiatives. In March 2021 the European Commission proposed a path to the Digital Decade. This policy program is guided by the 2030 Digital Compass – a plan to achieve digital transformation of the EU economy and society. One of the four cardinal points of the Digital Compass is the secure and sustainable digital infrastructures that will be able to provide Gigabit connectivity for all by the year 2030.
One of the largest obstacles for achieving the EU’s targets is the Urban-Rural divide in terms of Ultra-Broadband access penetration. The following figure shows the coverage of fixed VHCN (Very High-Capacity Networks) in rural areas as a percentage of households across the European Union countries.
We notice that the EU average is only 45% and there are still many countries that are well below this value. The low adoption of Very High-Capacity Networks (VHCN) in rural areas, as highlighted by the DESI index, underscores the pressing need for urgent attention and investment in purpose-built technologies that will be able to deliver Gigabit service to these remote areas.
The 26.5-29.5 GHz frequency bands represent a portion of the millimeter-wave spectrum, characterized by its high frequency and short wavelength. While these frequencies were historically underutilized due to technical challenges in propagation, recent advancements in radio frequency engineering have opened doors to their exploitation for high-capacity long range Fixed Wireless Access communication systems operating in paired FDD or contiguous TDD spectrum.
FDD is a communication technique that uses separate frequencies for upstream and downstream transmissions. In the context of GttH, FDD offers enhanced stability and reliability by ensuring that the upstream and downstream signals do not interfere with each other. The implementation of FDD in the 26.5-29.5 GHz bands allows for efficient bidirectional communication without compromising the quality of service. TDD, on the other hand, is a method where the same frequency channel is alternately used for upstream and downstream communication. The switching between transmission and reception occurs in rapid succession, with the timing managed by a synchronized protocol.
TDD offers dynamic efficiency, adapting to the asymmetric nature of internet traffic, where download speeds often outweigh upload speeds. In the 26.5-29.5 GHz bands, TDD proves to be an excellent choice for FWA systems by maximizing spectrum utilization.
The successful deployment of FDD and TDD systems in the 26.5-29.5 GHz bands relies on overcoming traditional challenges associated with millimeter-wave frequencies, such as signal attenuation due to rain and atmospheric absorption. Advanced antenna technologies, including phased array antennas and beamforming, play a pivotal role in mitigating these challenges. Phased array antennas enable the electronic steering of beams, allowing for precise targeting of user locations. This capability minimizes signal losses due to atmospheric absorption and enhances the overall link quality. Beamforming further amplifies the signal strength in the desired direction, compensating for the inherent limitations of millimeter-wave propagation
Backed up by a multi-decade experience in the design and manufacturing of leading-edge telecommunications products, Intracom Telecom can offer Point-to-MultiPoint (PtMP) solutions operating in the 26.5-29.5 GHz licensed spectrum that are capable to address the EU’s “Gigabit for all” target. The portfolio includes a range of FWA solutions, including the ultra-compact, all-outdoor WiBAS™ G5 dual-BS (FDD), WiBAS™ G5 smart-BS (TDD) base station radios and the WiBAS™ G5 GigaConnect and Connect+ terminal stations. The system uses MU-MIMO and beamforming technology to achieve higher spectrum efficiency, interference cancellation and long-range links. Both systems can deliver Gigabit downlink speeds to the user at distances over 5.5 km (FDD and TDD).
Achieving the Gigabit to the home milestone is not the only goal that needs to be reached by telecom operators. This target must be materialized in an efficient way and with minimum impact in the network complexity, power consumption and spectrum usage. As we see in the above systems by Intracom Telecom the Gigabit Downlink speeds in a base station sector are achieved with the use of a single 100MHz channel in the case of TDD deployment and one paired 112MHz channel in the case of FDD. 3GPP based FWA systems like 5G can also deliver Gigabit speeds to the subscriber using mmW spectrum. Unlike purpose built FWA systems, 5G employs carrier aggregation technique that allows the aggregation of multiple component carriers to enhance data rates and improve spectral efficiency. Despite the benefits of carrier aggregation, this technique adds complexity to the network and leads to expensive deployments.
The reason for the cost ineffectiveness of such solutions are the a) increases of the power consumption of the hub and terminal equipment and b) requires a multitude of spectrum resources that usually come at a high price for the operator. Additionally, in areas with low data traffic (rural), the benefits of carrier aggregation may be less significant. The advantages are more pronounced in high-density areas with a high demand for data services. The adoption of network design techniques used for mobile networks, also creates an undue burden to the economics of FWA networks. For example, the range of a 5G FWA network would normally shrink with increasing subscriber density, requiring more hub sites to be created in order to address a particular service area.
The purpose built WiBAS™ G5 FWA system minimizes the need for vast spectrum resources and at the same time maximizes the end user connection speeds even at long ranges which is the main requirement for Gigabit services in rural areas. Moreover, the low power consumption of the Intracom Telecom Base Station radios in combination with the high subscriber density (960 users per 4-sector cell) and long-range connections, constitute the solution environmentally friendly and GREEN when compared with its 3GPP based counterparts which require higher amounts of energy to cover similar service areas (more Base Stations). By reducing power consumption, the industry can significantly decrease its carbon footprint and help mitigate the impact of climate change paving the way for sustainable digital infrastructures. In addition to minimizing the overall energy footprint of the FWA deployments, there is also a strong economic component, which mainly concerns carriers and their Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) when building and operating their networks.
The utilization of millimeter-wave spectrum, particularly in the 26.5-29.5 GHz bands, presents a promising solution through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) systems. Both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) systems offer distinct advantages in stability, reliability, and spectrum efficiency, strengthened further by advanced antenna technologies like phased array antennas and beamforming. Intracom Telecom's purpose-built PtMP solutions demonstrate remarkable potential in achieving Gigabit connectivity over long distances, with minimal spectrum usage and minimal carbon footprint.
By optimizing power consumption, enhancing spectral efficiency, and reducing network complexity, these solutions align with the imperative need for sustainable digital infrastructures while meeting the pressing demands for bridging the digital divide in rural areas. Ultimately, the convergence of innovative technologies and strategic deployment strategies will be instrumental in realizing the vision of Gigabit for all, ensuring equitable access to ultra-fast internet services across diverse landscapes.