Novocomms 5G mmWave FWA Solution Expands Connectivity

UK-based antenna specialist Novocomms has developed a new 5G mmWave fixed wireless access (FWA) solution designed to deliver fibre-like data rates to rural, maritime, and underserved areas. Backed by the UK government’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), the company’s customer premises equipment (CPE) device aims to combine higher performance with a significant reduction in production cost.

For eeNews Europe readers, this development may be of interest for designs targeting next-generation FWA deployments where cost, power consumption, and flexible antenna performance are critical to bridging connectivity gaps.

Antenna technology for wider coverage

The new FWA solution is based on Novocomms’ patented Metarray multi-beam, multi-polarisation technology. By enabling precise modulation of electromagnetic waves, the antenna system allows for a flexible beam configuration and a wide coverage area of 120° in azimuth and 100° in elevation.

Dr. Sampson Hu commented: “The global market for mmWave CPE devices is expected to reach £12.5 billion by 2028, so this is certainly a high-value segment that is growing rapidly right now. This new product that we have developed with the backing of the SBRI represents a real step forward in performance for the sector, but crucially at a significantly lower cost of production.”

According to Novocomms, combining antenna design expertise, component optimisation, and material innovation, such as silicon allows the solution to address limitations in existing products, which are often expensive, power-hungry, or technically constrained.

Performance gains with reduced cost and power

Tests on the Novocomms FR2 CPE indicate support for a frequency range of 24 GHz to 71 GHz, dual linear polarisation, and beam scanning of ±60° in azimuth and ±50° in elevation. Compared with current industry solutions, the device potentially delivers up to 60% lower power consumption and 30% lower cost.

The company positions this balance of performance and efficiency as particularly relevant for operators deploying FWA in rural and hard-to-reach areas where the economics of fibre rollout are challenging. The Novocomms 5G mmWave FWA solution is now moving into pilot deployment, with commercial launch expected in early 2026.