Multiple tenants and apartments can share high capacity 5G mmWave links through existing in-building infrastructure

Delivering 5G broadband to apartment buildings just got simpler, thanks to a new specification that allows a single 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) modem to deliver high speed connectivity to multiple tenants.

The Broadband Forum has today announced the publication of its new technical report that outlines how multiple tenants and apartments can receive gigabit broadband connectivity through a single 5G FWA connection by reusing the building’s existing infrastructure.

This new specification solves challenges prevalent in Multi Dwelling Units (MDUs), such as the limited availability of service options for subscribers beyond 1Gbps in buildings that lack fiber-based access, and performance or coverage limitations of FWA for individual tenants in large buildings. This solution also allows apartments to be reached using the existing property infrastructure, including twisted pair, telephone wiring, or coaxial cabling, from the attic or basement of the building.

“This publication is a gamechanger for broadband service providers and will ensure that customers, regardless of what type of property they reside in, are served equally when it comes to broadband connectivity,” said Broadband Forum Multi-Tenant FWA Project Stream Lead and Wistron NeWeb Corporation Senior Director, Technology Mike Talbert. “By reusing the existing in-building infrastructure, multiple tenants can be served with one 5G FWA connection, and this specification promises more efficient use of 5G resources, simplified and unified management, and reduced operating costs for operators.”

FWA establishes a connection over a radio link for communications between a base station and user equipment, such as 5G modems, that are typically installed in the apartment.

For radio frequencies below 6 GHz, a 5G network is suitable to provide broadband services with a high-level of coverage. But for gigabit-level or multi-gigabit speeds, BSPs want to make use of high-band “Frequency Range 2” 5G mmWave spectrum at 24-40 GHz. This spectrum range has additional signal attenuation when travelling through walls or building materials, so architectures that employ outdoor CPE devices are favored to maximize performance.

“In the past, restrictions set by property owners or the design of existing MDU buildings have limited the possibilities for making high-capacity broadband services available to these subscribers,” said Broadband Forum Network Architecture Work Area Co-Director and Nokia Strategy and Standardization Manager Christele Bouchat. “The latest specification addresses these limitations by allowing the installation of a high-performance 5G outdoor FWA system that can be shared by potentially dozens of tenants and connected through existing cabling already in the building.”

The project began in 2023 and has defined the architecture and requirements for serving multiple tenants in an MDU via FWA through converged and pure 5G network approaches. TR-507 and MR-516 are available to download.

About the Broadband Forum

The Broadband Forum is an industry-driven global standards development organization helping operators, application providers, and vendors deliver better, services-led broadband.

As the industry-recognized center of competence, the Broadband Forum provides an accessible, efficient, and effective community where all broadband stakeholders can collaborate on, develop, and promote open standards and open software. This provides the basis for deployable solutions for the global broadband industry.

The Broadband Forum publishes interoperable standards and open software, has launched certification programs, and promotes industry education. These best practices and models can be adopted to help realize an effective broadband ecosystem that drives a thriving, services-led broadband industry based on global collaboration, open standards, and open source, maximizing value for all stakeholders.

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