• Roundtable discussions underscored how 5G-Advanced will be crucial in driving digital transformation and fostering regional economic growth

ICT Industry leaders and experts convened for the global Mobile Broadband Forum (MBBF) in Istanbul for the third ELITE FWA Club roundtable to discuss the future of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and, in particular, 5G-Advanced FWA; its transformative impact in the development of regional digital economies, and its significance in meeting meaningful connectivity goals.  The roundtable discussions underscored how 5G-Advanced will be crucial in driving digital transformation and fostering regional economic growth by enabling new use cases across the digital services landscape as well as in IoT, AI, cybersecurity, and automation.

The high-level roundtable, with ELITE FWA Club rotating chairpersons of the FWA Working Group’s sub-groups on Experience Management and Service Innovation, stc Kuwait and Omantel, respectively, alongside the leadership of SAMENA Telecommunications Council and Huawei, highlighted the GCC region's global leadership in 5G FWA implementation, assessed prospects of growth, and sketched a roadmap for 5G-Advanced technology adoption.

Building on the momentum from its inaugural meeting, held in Dubai in December 2023, the ELITE FWA Club, created to assist in accelerating FWA adoption across the Middle East and other markets where 5G deployment is in progress, has emerged as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing and strategic collaboration in advancing FWA technologies across the region.

Bocar BA, CEO and Board Member of the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, highlighted how 5G-Advanced adds greater intelligence and security capabilities. Alongside enhanced machine learning capabilities, the technology supports applications such as extended reality, industrial IoT, and smart agriculture, which play direct roles in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

"FWA is instrumental in augmenting our efforts toward ensuring digital inclusion, connecting the unconnected more cost-effectively. In support of the ITU’s initiatives and the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development recommendations, the SAMENA Council is supporting broadband infrastructure development through innovative funding approaches that it helped create. FWA presents a compelling option in this regard,” BA stated. 

BA also highlighted various initiatives and platforms created to support the work of the ELITE FWA Club. These include the SAMENA ELITE, an FWA-dedicated e-publication, and the FWA Info Series, comprising both video and written content curated to empower professionals with the latest insights, survey findings, best practices, and innovation updates within the FWA market segment.

Abdulaziz Al Deweesh from stc Kuwait, explored how 5G-Advanced helps address the unique climatic conditions in Kuwait and the Middle East, where homes and buildings are constructed to accommodate extreme weather conditions. Outdoor Unit (ODU)-based FWA services help overcome signal penetration challenges, resulting in notably higher customer satisfaction, retention, and utilization rates than traditional 5G router users.

"The enhanced capabilities of 5G-Advanced FWA, such as higher data rates, lower latency, and improved network capacity of the new spectrum, will have a significant impact on the end users when it comes to their daily usage and productivity. It will also open doors to new and emerging used cases such as AR, VR, cloud computing, and much more. Additionally, it will enable us to support critical IoT use cases that require ultra-reliable and low-latency communication," Abdulaziz Al Deweesh added.

Omantel has implemented a comprehensive 5G FWA strategy, focusing on advanced network optimization through C BAND and 2.6 GHz technology and carrier aggregation. Additionally, the operator has established strategic partnerships with device manufacturers to ensure device availability and compatibility across its network. Through market-specific pricing plans and customized service bundles, Omantel addresses the unique demands of the Omani market while investing significantly in customer education and support programs to enhance the overall user experience.

Hani Al Mukhaini, Senior Manager of Network Design at Omantel, stated: "Our commitment to extensive network coverage and capacity optimization has enabled us to deliver best-in-class experiences. We are now gearing up for 5G-Advanced to enhance network capabilities further and maintain our position at the forefront of technology development."

Through comprehensive technological and strategic initiatives, Huawei has established itself as a key enabler of the 5G FWA ecosystem in the Middle East region. Through advanced network optimization tools and zero-touch provisioning solutions, Huawei enables telecom operators to efficiently manage their 5G FWA networks while maintaining superior user experience. This technological leadership is complemented by strategic consulting and implementation support, helping regional operators achieve their business objectives through a deep understanding of local market dynamics.

Edwin Wang, Vice President, Global 5G Marketing and Solution Sales at Huawei, said: "As we enter the 5G-Advanced and AI era, FWA is positioned to experience unprecedented growth by addressing traditional connectivity challenges. With the introduction of 5G-A CPE, we’re upgrading the FWA experience from Fiber like to Fiber same and enabling multi-service like 4K TV and Cloud Gaming Bundled to enhance the offer attractiveness; meanwhile, RedCap CPE/MiFi brings a significant reduction of device costs, targeting entry-level user and 4G Cat 4 CPE migration, effectively offloading 4G. Looking forward, CPE will be the Smart Home Hub portal, not only a device for connectivity but also with multimodal and AI function integration, providing camera/voice control/edge computing power.”

Participants at the FWA roundtable explored how the technology is enabling critical use cases across various sectors. In healthcare, this includes connected ambulances and remote patient monitoring. In education, virtual classrooms bring learning opportunities to impoverished areas with insufficient infrastructure. The technology also advances transportation systems and supports environmental sustainability initiatives through energy-efficient solutions and smart city development.

The discussion brought to the fore how regional operators are aligning their 5G-Advanced initiatives with national visions, such as Kuwait Vision 2035 and Oman Vision 2040, particularly in areas of sustainability and digital transformation. Both stc Kuwait and Omantel shared their comprehensive approaches to sustainable practices, including energy-efficient infrastructure deployment and carbon footprint reduction initiatives.