By Oystein Bergmann, Bureau Chief, Scandinavia

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

The test utilized Nokia’s AirScale baseband and AirScale 24GHz (n258 band) mmWave radio and a Nokia FastMile 5G PoC CPE (customer premises equipment). Testing involved eight component carriers (8CC) in the downlink, aggregating 800MHz of mmWave spectrum. This enabled a top downlink speed of 2.1 Gbps, and an uplink speed of 57.2 Mbps.

This 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.

Nokia’s mmWave radio portfolio is comprised of 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.

The Nokia FastMile 5G PoC device used in these tests is currently being trialed by major operators globally. High speeds over significant distances can be achieved with its high-gain 360° antenna (27dBi), which dynamically adapts to changing conditions to overcome mmWave deployment challenges.

Head of Strategy and Technology at Nokia Mobile Networks, Ari Kynäslahti said: “We just set a new speed record for extended range 5G mmWave. 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.”