Nokia claims extended range mmWave 5G speed record

Nokia says it has achieved sustained average downlink speeds of over 2 Gbps using millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum and 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), over a distance of 10.86 km. This download speed, understood to be the fastest recorded to date, was accomplished using Nokia’s 5G extended range mmWave solution at the OuluZone test facility in Oulu, Finland.

The test utilised the company’s AirScale baseband and AirScale 24 GHz (n258 band) mmWave radio as well as Nokia FastMile 5G PoC CPE (customer premises equipment), which is currently being trialled by major operators globally. High speeds over significant distances can be achieved with its high-gain 360° antenna (27 dBi), which dynamically adapts to changing conditions to overcome mmWave deployment challenges.

Testing involved eight component carriers (8CC) in the downlink, aggregating 800 MHz of mmWave spectrum. This enabled a top downlink speed of 2.1 Gbps and an uplink speed of 57.2 Mbps.

The achievement, which builds on a previous world record announced by Nokia in 2021, demonstrates the reach and connectivity speeds that 5G mmWave can deliver. It also lays the foundations for high-quality internet connectivity solutions delivered via FWA to areas where wired connections are not always possible.

“We just set a new speed record for extended range 5G mmWave,” said Ari Kynäslahti, Head of Strategy and Technology at Nokia Mobile Networks. “This demonstrates that mmWave solutions will be an essential building block for operators to efficiently deliver widespread, multi-gigabit 5G broadband coverage to their customers in urban, suburban and rural areas, complementing sub-6 GHz spectrum assets. This is a substantial achievement that reflects how we are constantly innovating and evolving our 5G services and solutions.”

Nokia’s mmWave radio portfolio comprises compact high- and medium-power solutions, offering a wide range of deployment options that provide flexibility in ensuring service continuity across a wide variety of environments.

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