iTnews

NBN Co cuts average number of users per wireless cell to 19

By Ry Crozier on Jan 13, 2021 4:31PM
NBN Co cuts average number of users per wireless cell to 19

Down from a peak of up to 60.

NBN Co said it has reduced the number of users per fixed wireless cell from “historical levels of around 60” down to 19 “on average”.

The company said that reducing the average number of users per cell was one initiative it had undertaken to “achieve increased data rates for users”.

It was also optimising “end user radio conditions” and “actively balancing user profiles” as part of the same package of works, it said in a statement today.

“Following a 20 percent increase in the number of active cells in the last twelve months, there are currently 19 users per cell on average, a reduction from historical levels of around 60,” NBN Co said in a statement.

Congestion on the fixed wireless network has been a multi-year challenge for NBN Co and has cost the company at least $800 million to fix.

In 2017, NBN Co had approximately 5000 cells activated "with 60 users per cell in different locations as the maximum allowable number", an NBN Co spokesperson told iTnews.

That would appear to suggest that while the number of users on some cells peaked at 60, the distribution of users among active cells was not uniform.

Now, NBN Co's spokesperson said, "with 342,000 customers on the fixed wireless network, there are now approximately 19,000 cells" - which gives an average of 18, or 19 with likely rounding errors.

Recently-added cells have been targeted at areas and users that experience particularly slow uplink speeds.

Outside of increasing the number of cells, NBN Co is also deploying carrier aggregation “to improve load balancing across available spectrum and enhance single user data rates”, and exploring the use of newer antenna technology and high-capacity backhaul.

It has also proposed the introduction of bandwidth limits on individual users in busy times, enforcing a fair use policy.

Future 5G

The updates on congestion activities came as NBN Co announced the results of tests of millimetre-wave 5G technology, which may be deployed in future upgrades of the fixed wireless network.

NBN Co claimed to have “achieved a world record for long-range 5G transmission using mmWave”.

“In live testing at an NBN proof of concept site near Mortlake, Victoria, NBN Co and its technology partners, Ericsson, Qualcomm Technologies and Casa Systems, achieved a stable 5G mmWave transmission of close to 1Gbps at a distance of 7.3km, double the distance recorded at the site just three months ago, and a new record globally,” it said.

“NBN Co anticipates ongoing testing to demonstrate even longer range capability in the future”.

NBN Co added that more than 90 percent of its fixed wireless customers live within 7.3km of an existing cell.

Similar distance trials are also taking place in Italy.

NBN Co's spokesperson added to iTnews that the company "has a commitment to explore innovative ways to optimise performance and customer experience on the fixed wireless network, bearing in mind our finite spectrum and resource limitations."

"Industry development for mmWave to date has largely focused on high-density urban environments and our team has been working to push the boundaries of the underlying technologies to help identify a development pathway for commercial solutions in the coming years that can help meet the distance requirements of the fixed wireless network and other similar networks around the world," the spokesperson added.

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright © iTnews.com.au . All rights reserved.
Tags:
cell congestion fixed wireless nbn nbn co optimisation telco telco/isp user

Partner Content

COVID puts agile IT under the microscope
Promoted Content COVID puts agile IT under the microscope
Shut the door on ransomware
Promoted Content Shut the door on ransomware
What is zero trust cybersecurity?
Partner Content What is zero trust cybersecurity?
Improving returns from SD-WAN spending
Partner Content Improving returns from SD-WAN spending

Sponsored Whitepapers

Move beyond passwords
Move beyond passwords
The top 5 tech trends to deliver business outcomes
The top 5 tech trends to deliver business outcomes
10 reasons why businesses need to invest in cloud security training
10 reasons why businesses need to invest in cloud security training
Your guide to application security solutions
Your guide to application security solutions
State of Software Security: Open Source Edition
State of Software Security: Open Source Edition

Events

  • On-Demand Webinar: How Poly and Microsoft are Embracing Future Work Environments
  • [iTnews and Micro Focus] Navigating the cloud modernisation minefield
By Ry Crozier
Jan 13 2021
4:31PM
0 Comments

Related Articles

  • NBN Co to deploy more fixed wireless cells to improve uplink speeds
  • NBN Co starts testing feasibility of mmWave for future fixed wireless
  • NBN Co and biggest carriers to jointly tackle telco congestion
  • NBN Co to raise fixed wireless resilience after fiery summer
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Whatsapp Email A Friend

Most Read Articles

TPG Telecom to start enticing NBN customers to move

TPG Telecom to start enticing NBN customers to move

Infosys scores another $40m for Centrelink payments engine build

Infosys scores another $40m for Centrelink payments engine build

Telstra InfraCo opens up telco's own fibre network

Telstra InfraCo opens up telco's own fibre network

Transport for NSW data stolen in Accellion breach

Transport for NSW data stolen in Accellion breach

You must be a registered member of iTnews to post a comment.
Log In | Register
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of nextmedia's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.