Page 133 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2022

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

NBN Co Selects Nokia’s 5G mmWave FWA Technology

Finnish vendor Nokia has been selected
by Australia’s NBN Co to supply 5G fixed
wireless access (FWA) mmWave customer
premises equipment (CPE) for the
latter’s upgraded fixed wireless offerings.
According to Nokia, in what it claimed
is a world-first the CPE it will provide can
support high frequency mmWave bands
and enable gigabit speeds for premises
within a 7km radius of a radio base station.
Nokia’s CPE comprises an outdoor unit
installed on the roof of the premise and
an indoor unit providing user interfaces for
the customer, connecting to the outdoor
receiver with a 2.5Gbps Power over
Ethernet connection. In a press release
regarding the matter it was noted that an operated in Non-Stand Alone (NSA) mode, rural and regional areas, with an estimated
upgrade program will see NBN Co’s existing along with cmWave spectrum and will 300% increase in demand for data on our
fixed wireless network footprint – which help enable faster speeds on the network, fixed wireless network over the next ten
currently covers almost 650,000 premises including the launch of two new wholesale years. Nokia’s 5G mmWave solution allows
– extended ‘by up to 50%’, also bringing high speed tiers – 100Mbps and 250Mbps. NBN Co to better utilize both our sub-6GHz
FWA to approximately 120,000 former Commenting, Jason Ashton, Executive and 5G mmWave spectrum allocations to
satellite-only eligible premises. Meanwhile, General Manager, Fixed Wireless and vastly extend the range, speed and capacity
it was noted that the 5G mmWave upgrade Satellite at NBN Co, said: ‘We are facing a of our existing fixed wireless network and
program will utilize the 28GHz band, to be step-change in demand for broadband in improve the end user’s experience.’

NTT Docomo Tips 6G to Fuel Sci-Fi Style Applications

Takehiro Nakamura, chief technology create so-called “human augmentation”. Docomo would be the first global player to
architect of Japanese operator NTT In terms of timelines for 6G, the executive hit the button on the technology as it had
Docomo, highlighted 6G’s potential to expects standardization discussions in been with 3G back in 2001. Discussing the
provide augmentation of human capabilities the mid-2020s with a final agreement by importance of being the first to launch,
but stressed it had no ambition to win 2028 and commercial deployment in 2030. he added “it is not so important anymore”
the global race to network deployment. However, he noted “some companies [and] citing its “bad experience” as the pioneer of
Speaking during the digital event’s day some countries are very aggressive to 3G with initial system deemed unstable. “In
three keynote, Nakamura portrayed a vision deploy the new generation system,” adding 4G and 5G we did not have any motivation
of 6G operating on very high spectrum this meant there was a chance some could to be [the] world’s first operator, but we
bands improving current communications go live in 2028 or 2029. The latter timescale want to be in the first group of operators
applications while providing the basis fits with timelines previously cited in to launch new generation systems,”
for advanced technology previously seen some markets and vendors. Although Nakamura stated, noting this policy was
in science fiction. This includes use of clearly enthused by the possibilities of 6G, being followed into the 6G era.
sensors, data and artificial intelligence to Nakamura dismissed the suggestion NTT

Fastweb Ups Peak 5G Download Rate to 1.6Gbps

Italian telco Fastweb has upgraded the a report from MondoMobileWeb, the peak this year Fastweb claimed 60% population
maximum download speed available on rate now matches that given by its 5G coverage for its 5G service.
its 5G network to 1.6Gbps. According to network sharing partner, WINDTRE. In July

133 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022