Bharti Airtel to Be Ready With 5G FWA in Next 6 Months

Bharti Airtel’s CEO, Gopal Vittal, during the Q3 FY23 earnings call, provided an update about 5G Fixed Wireless Access and the aspects the company is looking into to offer FWA Services. Bharti Airtel acquired spectrum in the 26 GHz band during the 2022 auctions, and the mmWave band is used to offer FWA services.

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5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)

5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a technology that enables high-speed internet connectivity to homes and businesses using 5G wireless networks. Unlike traditional broadband solutions that use wired connections such as fiber or cable, 5G FWA leverages the 5G networks using the 26 GHz (mmWave band) spectrum to provide internet access. 5G FWA can provide around 4 Gbps kind of speeds and lower latency, which is ideal for applications such as online gaming and video conferencing. The disadvantage of FWA is the coverage or range aspect and need a higher number of deployments.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel ARPU Rises to Rs 193 in Q3 FY23

Bharti Airtel’s 26 GHz Spectrum

Airtel holds 800 MHz of spectrum across all the 22 circles in the 26 GHz band, also called the mmWave band. Typically spectrum in this band is used for offering 5G FWA services. The spectrum available at millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency bands above 24 GHz can deliver extreme capacity, ultra-high throughput and ultra-low latency.

Airtel 5G FWA

The company said it is conducting several experiments and pilots with Fixed Wireless. Still, one of the constraints or challenges is that the router cost of Fixed Wireless Access is quite high, somewhere around 180 – 200 dollars, as of today. This router, CPE (Customer Premises Equipment), is required for the customer to experience 5G FWA along with the monthly charges for the service.