5G Fixed Wireless Access: Revolutionizing Connectivity in the Digital Age

This book explores the transformative potential of 5G technology in delivering high-speed broadband services through wireless means, particularly targeting underserved and rural areas. The book covers several key topics, including high-frequency spectrum bands, advanced transmission schemes, multi-connectivity, adaptive numerology, and Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB). These elements are critical for enhancing network performance, increasing capacity, and reducing latency. High-frequency spectrum bands, such as those above 24 GHz, are essential for providing the necessary bandwidth to support high data rates and capacity. The book explains how these bands, while offering unprecedented peak rates, present challenges such as limited coverage and penetration, which are addressed through advanced technical solutions. Advanced transmission schemes, including massive beamforming and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output, are explored in detail. These technologies enable the efficient use of the spectrum by allowing multiple user terminals to be served simultaneously on the same frequency resources, thereby increasing the overall network capacity and improving user experiences. Multi-connectivity and adaptive numerology are also key topics. Multi-connectivity allows user equipment to connect to multiple network nodes simultaneously, improving reliability and performance. Adaptive numerology, defined in 3GPP Release 15, supports a flexible range of subcarrier spacing to cater to different services, quality of service requirements, latency needs, and frequency ranges. IAB is another significant topic covered in the book. IAB leverages the same spectrum for both access and backhaul, simplifying deployment and reducing costs. By using the 5G infrastructure to support backhaul, it eliminates the need for extensive fiber installations, making it easier to extend high-speed connectivity to remote and rural areas. These topics are crucial as they collectively address the limitations of traditional wired infrastructure, which is often costly and time-consuming to deploy in rural and hard-to-reach areas. By leveraging 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), the book sets out to solve the problem of the digital divide, aiming to make high-speed internet more accessible and affordable. The relevance of these solutions is underscored by the growing global demand for reliable, high-speed internet access. As the book outlines, 5G FWA not only enhances broadband services but also plays a pivotal role in bridging the digital divide, ensuring that more people, regardless of their location, can benefit from the advancements in internet technology. This makes 5G FWA an essential read for understanding the future of broadband connectivity and the strategic approaches needed to overcome deployment challenges. This book is intended to be a definitive guide for professionals, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the nuances and implications of this transformative technology.