fixed wireless access (access area) (FWA)

Fixed wireless access (FWA) is a wireless local loop that offers a radio alternative to a wireline local loop in the access area. FWA technology, which is suitable for private households and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), bridges the last mile to the subscriber by radio.

Long Term Evolution( LTE), the 4th generation ( 4G) mobile communications network, and above all the 5th generation ( 5G) networks are suitable for wireless transmission in the access area. With an FWA connection, a radio link takes over the function of cable-based transmission via copper cable with DSL technology or via optical fiber. When using 5G, the transmission capacity can be significantly increased compared to 4G and the latency reduced. Since subscribers must share the 5G wireless link, an FWA wireless link cannot replace Fiber To The Home( FTTH).

A Fixed Wireless Access can be implemented as a point-to-point link or a point-to-multipoint link and connects the subscriber line to a base station. The transmission works with Time Division Multiple Access( TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access( CDMA), carrier aggregation and MIMO technology and can realize data rates in the gigabit range. It is carried out from a transmitter to stationary receiving equipment in houses or buildings. Reception is via an antenna and an RF modem. The broadband FWA version is Broadband Fixed Wireless Access( BFWA).

An alternative to cellular networks is Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), which bridges the last mile via a point-to-point link in the 60 GHz band. This application, which can transmit data rates in the gigabit range, is Wireless to the Home(WTTH) and is being tested by several providers. Another scenario is Wireless to the Building (WTTB), with the difference that the in-building distribution is achieved by a WLAN or wired network.