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The home has become the hub from which your subscribers collectively live, work, play, and learn - virtually. The demands upon the hyper-connected homes continuously grow because of the demand for 4K streaming, online learning, remote working, and cloud gaming across various devices. This is compounded by multiple family members accessing the network simultaneously with numerous devices. According to a recent Plume Insights report, U.S. households are now averaging over 21 connected devices. This has driven the need for higher-bandwidth residential services. According to OpenVault’s Q4’21 Broadband Insights report, gigabit subscriptions were up 44% in 2021 and now constitute 12% of all subscribers. Fiber providers are raising the bar with multi-gigabit residential services via 10-gigabit-capable XGS-PON technology.
Addressing the Bandwidth Bottleneck
However, deploying fiber and multi-gigabit services is not the only solution. The bandwidth bottleneck is now shifting to the in-home Wi-Fi network. Subscribers now equate Wi-Fi with the Internet, and extending the gigabit experience from the access network into the home is critical for your success.
So, which Wi-Fi technology offers the best blend of coverage and device support? What about mesh Wi-Fi? What tools do you need to manage and optimize the Wi-Fi experience? How do you empower your customer service representatives (CSRs) with insight to speed issue resolution and avoid truck rolls?
The five keys to delivering next-level, in-home Wi-Fi experiences and gaining passionately loyal customers are:
1. Start with Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6 or 802.11ax is the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology. With support for wider 160 MHz channels, and up to 8x8 Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), Wi-Fi 6 delivers more than four times higher throughput and supports eight times more simultaneous connections, making it ideal for the multi-device, mul
Fiber is being deployed everywhere and is the future-proof solution on everyone’s mind. Large public investments are being driven by initiatives like the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and the European Electronics Communications Code (EECC), and private equity investments. The shared goal remains access to fiber and gigabit services.
Yet, actual implementations of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) in rural areas and dense urban locations prove difficult. Taking fiber to rural communities costs a tremendous amount for little return in terms of average revenue per user. Urban areas suffer from physical obstacles such as roadways, rivers, or railroads, adding cost to an already expensive proposition. In addition, labor shortages and supply chain issues have led to a market ripe with demand but short on supply.
Can I Use Fixed Wireless for Gigabit Services? It may not be ideal.
Fixed wireless solutions have long been the staple for rural broadband, but bandwidth has been limited. Unlicensed 60GHz millimeter wave (mmWave) fixed wireless offers multi-gigabit backhaul and access and has now emerged as the ideal complement to extending fiber-like gigabit service. However, 60GHz technology has challenges, including limited range, required line-of-sight between nodes, and atmospheric conditions like O2 absorption.
The market needs a solution that delivers gigabit service while minimizing obstacles. An ideal solution would:
Alternate Solutions: A Business Case for D
