NBN Co and Ericsson have successfully conducted live field trials of the latest 5G millimetre wave (mmwave) technology in parts of the NBN fixed wireless network, achieving wholesale download speeds exceeding 1 Gbps and wholesale upload speeds of more than 100 Mbps at a distance of approximately 10 kilometres.
These trials are parts of NBN’s ongoing efforts to improve broadband connectivity for eligible homes and businesses in regional and rural Australia. By testing both the speed and extended range capabilities of 5G mmwave, NBN and Ericsson aim to significantly improve broadband performance for eligible homes and businesses over time.
So far, NBN and Ericsson have deployed 5G mmwave equipment to approximately 850 of the 2,300 network sites within the NBN fixed wireless network. The latest Ericsson software in combination with the existing Nokia Wireless Network Termination Devices Version 4 (WNTDv4 or NBN premise antennas) allows NBN to increase the effective range of the 5G mmwave sites from approximately 6.9 kilometres to 10 kilometres and beyond.
The higher speed, longer range capabilities remain in the testing phase for now and have not yet been made available to customers at scale.
Approximately 10,000 premises across Australia are currently actively using 5G mmwave. NBN expects this number to grow as more WNTDs are upgraded.
NBN recently completed an AUD750 million upgrade to its fixed wireless network using the latest 4G and 5G millimetre wave technology.
The upgrades, completed by the end of 2024, have expanded the transmission radius of around 2,300 fixed wireless towers using mid-band spectrum from 14 kilometres to 29 kilometres, increasing the network’s coverage footprint from 220,000 to 345,000 square kilometres.
The upgrades to the NBN fixed wireless network now provides higher-speed, future-ready broadband to an addressable market of some 800,000 homes and businesses in parts of regional and rural Australia.
NBN has recently introduce new high-speed tier plans to eligible, upgraded locations via participating retail service providers, including:
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Fixed Wireless Home Fast is intended to be available to approximately 90% of the expanded fixed wireless footprint. Fixed Wireless Home Fast has wholesale peak information rate speeds of 200-250/8-20 Mbps1,2.
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Fixed Wireless Superfast is intended to be available to approximately 80% of the expanded fixed wireless footprint. Fixed Wireless Superfast has wholesale peak information rate speeds of 400/10-40 Mbps1,2.
As part of the upgrades, the company’s most significant breakthroughs have involved optimised spectrum reuse, and minimising the number of premises served per cell. NBN is working closely with Qualcomm Technologies as part of its long-standing collaboration to deliver leading, extended range gigabit services to customers.
“We look forward to realising the full potential of our Nokia Wireless Network Termination Devices and engage with Ericsson to expand the reach of 5G mmwave, we plan to make higher speed fixed wireless broadband available to more customers,” said NBN’s Gavin Williams. “We will make further announcements throughout the year.”
“We have pushed the boundaries of 5G mmwave with Ericsson, testing and validating their latest software now matching the limit of NBN’s current WNTDv4,” he added.
“We are very pleased to see that at a range of just under 10 kilometres our network and WNTDv4 is proven to accommodate download speeds well over 1 Gbps and upload speeds in excess of 100 Mbps. This points to an exciting future network capability for business and enterprise grade services or higher speed services for residential customers.”
