Regulators worldwide are in a key position to create policy environments that encourage investments in digitalization. Ensuring the availability of spectrum is essential for accelerating the deployment of 5G and future communications technologies. Even seemingly small regulatory decisions can have great outcomes by increasing the flexibility of deployment options for both operators and equipment vendors.  

The FCC relaxes E-Band antenna requirements

The United States Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is responsible for administering telecommunications across the U.S. Recently, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O) that introduced a relaxation in the requirements for antennas operating in the 80 GHz mmWave band (E-Band), which are used for microwave backhaul transmission.

This change has been discussed for some time, and the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (FWCC) has been instrumental in driving the FCC rule change to allow the use of smaller antennas. With the release of this R&O, it is possible to use lower gain 38 dBi microwave antennas instead of the 43 dBi antennas that are currently in use. 

The most compact product on the market for high-capacity backhaul

E-Band wireless backhaul is typically used to connect cell sites in urban and downtown areas, where sites require high capacity and short path lengths. Low-gain radios are a perfect fit for short wireless links. Typical use cases include backhaul for small cell deployments, hotspots and pop-up events.

To serve these E-Band use cases, we have introduced the Wavence Ultra Broadband Transceiver Urban (UBT-mU), a high-capacity 10 Gbps radio with an integrated antenna. It’s fully compliant with the new FCC regulations, delivers fiber-like performance and is commercially available today. The great thing is that it’s so compact that it can practically fit in the palm of a hand.

When comparing our UBT-mU to similar products from competitors, we have seen that the product that is closest to ours is still almost twice as big and 15 percent heavier even if it features a compact external antenna. All the other competitors’ products are also heavier than UBT-mU and combined with the bigger external antennas that they require, the solution weighs up to three times more.

Because the competing products are bigger and heavier, they require a more robust installation infrastructure, such as enforced walls or additional supporting structures, increasing site costs. Furthermore, it can be more difficult to get the required permissions to deploy these bulky and heavy solutions at sites where visual impact is of particular consideration. The complexity of these solutions also increases the number of warehouse assets and spare parts required.

Nokia has designed the UBT-mU to overcome these challenges. It has an integrated antenna, which makes it the most compact and lightest product on the market. It enables greater deployment flexibility, easier installation and reduced wind load, all of which result in lower site costs. It’s also less noticeable at street level, which is especially important when installed in residential and commercial areas where the equipment must be less visible.

I’m happy that the FCC now allows the use of lower transmission power products in the E-Band, which makes our product an attractive solution also on the U.S. market. Allowing flexible microwave transport deployment options enables the rollout of 5G in more locations, particularly in areas where fiber connectivity is either not available or not cost-effective. 

Uncompromised focus on energy efficiency

Innovative technology solutions have a critical role in accelerating digitalization, which in turn, helps societies and industries reduce their CO2 emissions on the path to a more sustainable future. Reducing the physical size of technology products results in a smaller carbon footprint throughout a product’s lifecycle, from point of manufacturing all the way to end of life.

Considering the vast majority of emissions are still borne during a product's use phase, Nokia builds its microwave transport products with an uncompromised focus on energy efficiency. This reduces the carbon footprint also when the equipment is in use, which is when it makes the biggest impact.

At Nokia, we are committed to helping you roll out the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions. To learn more, visit our Wavence microwave portfolio website and reach out to us for further discussions.