Using Existing Base Station Sites for 5G Millimeter-wave Fixed Wireless Access: Antenna Height and Coverage Analysis

The utilization of millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies presents a challenge due to their susceptibility to significant attenuation when encountering obstacles. Providing 5G cellular services using these frequencies has proven to be challenging. However, they exhibit suitability for fixed wireless access (FWA) applications. Fixed wireless links remain relatively stationary, allowing for network design centered around line-of-sight (LoS) coverage. This study delves into the investigation of LoS coverage by making use of existing base transceiver station (BTS) sites in a rural region of Finland. Laser-scanned geospatial data is employed to assess LoS coverage, considering both BTS and customer premise equipment (CPE) antenna heights. Additionally, measured throughput data from commercial 5G devices is utilized to estimate feasible user throughput. The assessment is carried out in the rural area of Pornainen, Finland, covering a total of 764 households and three pre-existing BTS sites. The analysis encompasses BTS tower heights ranging from 30 m to 400 m. Through this analysis, the study presents LoS coverage patterns for various combinations of BTS tower and CPE heights. Notably, the research demonstrates that residences with established LoS connections have the potential to achieve downlink throughput exceeding 3 Gbps at 26 GHz. This finding underscores the feasibility of high-speed connectivity in areas where LoS conditions are favorable, highlighting the potential for effective FWA deployment in rural settings.