Fixed wireless can become Gigabit wireless access (GWA) using both licensed and unlicensed millimeter wave spectrum, making it an ideal option for both small and large wireless Internet service providers (WISP). Furthermore, the cost and speed of 5G GWA infrastructure deployment make it a perfect complement to fiber networks without compromising broadband speed or reliability. GWA can also be a more efficient solution than laying new fiber services such as FTTH or FTTP in greenfield, dense urban, rural and suburban environments. Millimeter wave radios offer point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connectivity for business, MDU, single-family homes and smart city applications.

In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission has allocated 14 GHz of contiguous unlicensed spectrum in the 60 GHz V-band, which gives WISPs the chance to use millimeter wave technology without the high cost of bidding for licensed spectrum in an auction. Therefore, on the occasion of the WISPALOOZA 2019 event in Las Vegas, October 14 – 18, 2019, Siklu sat down with WISPs from Mexico, the UK and US to discuss their current and upcoming GWA activities.