Next-generation fixed wireless access (ngFWA) is an entirely new way of designing and operating large-scale fixed wireless access networks to deliver fiber-class, reliable broadband where it’s needed most. Unlike previous wireless technologies, ngFWA is architected specifically to offer unprecedented coverage, speed, capacity, non-line-of-sight operation, and reliability in the challenging RF environments common to outdoor fixed wireless deployments.

We understand that navigating the many technology terms and concepts associated with wireless can be challenging. To address this, we’ve put together a guide that explores the differences between ngFWA architecture, as exemplified by Tarana’s Gigabit 1 (G1) platform, and other technologies commonly used to deliver FWA, such as 5G and Wi-Fi.

Topics covered in this paper include:

• RF challenges in fixed wireless access
• Success and failures of 5G and Wi-Fi in FWA deployments
• Key principles of ngFWA radio design
• The benefits of precision beam- and nullforming
• MIMO, distributed massive MIMO, and spatial multiplexing
• Multi-user MIMO and multi-user distributed massive MIMO
• Maximizing non-line-of-sight (NLoS) performance
• Interference cancellation and k=1 spectrum reuse
• Adaption to dynamic motion in channel
• Symmetric link performance