OPTIMIZE YOUR FWA NETWORK EXPERIENCE AND MAXIMIZE PROFITABILITY
How to plan and scale FWA profitably Author: Régis Lerbour, VP Network Testing and RAN Engineering
The success of any wireless network starts with the integrity and accuracy of its radio access network (RAN) design. But even once you have launched your FWA service, the need for continuous planning, analysis and optimization
business case should still be undertaken. In the latter, evaluating the investment required so that the new FWA subscribers do not degrade the network for existing users is perhaps the most important consideration. Planning network coverage Planning a network to support FWA services is largely the same as planning any mobile network but there are a few subtleties that need to be considered. The first is that FWA traffic is more likely to be concentrated around suburban and small business areas with less traffic in dense urban areas compared to a traditional mobile network. It might also make a lot of sense to build more rural sites than one typically would if considering only mobile subscribers, expanding their network with more rural coverage. When planning sites, it is also critical to consider line of sight (LoS) to potential customers. This is not something that is typically considered when planning a traditional mobile network.
of the network doesn’t end. So, whether you are building a new network for FWA, or maximizing the value of your existing 5G network investment, accurate planning remains the bedrock of delivering the best FWA network experience and profitability. How to plan and dimension a network for FWA First, let’s look at some of the main network planning steps – both in RF and backhaul design – which need to be considered when preparing to launch an FWA service. Not every step will be relevant to every CSP, since for example, some CSPs will already have a 5G network and others won’t. Assessing the business case Critical to the success of an FWA service is validation that the planned investment produces the required return on investment. For a CSP without a mobile network, the investment will be significant, and this will be an important first step. For a CSP with an existing mobile network, the investment will be less, but validation of the
When planning sites, it is also critical to consider line of sight (LoS) to potential customers. This is not something that is typically considered when planning a traditional mobile network.
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