5G FWA breakthrough brings high-speed broadband to MDUs
November 4, 2025
The Broadband Forum has announced the publication of its latest technical report that outlines how multiple tenants and apartments can receive gigabit broadband connectivity through a single 5G FWA connection by reusing the building’s existing infrastructure.
This new specification solves challenges prevalent in Multi Dwelling Units (MDUs), such as the limited availability of service options for subscribers beyond 1Gbps in buildings that lack fibre-based access, and performance or coverage limitations of FWA for individual tenants in large buildings. This solution also allows apartments to be reached using the existing property infrastructure, including twisted pair, telephone wiring, or coaxial cabling, from the attic or basement of the building.
“This publication is a gamechanger for broadband service providers and will ensure that customers, regardless of what type of property they reside in, are served equally when it comes to broadband connectivity,” said Broadband Forum Multi-Tenant FWA Project Stream Lead and Wistron NeWeb Corporation Senior Director, Technology Mike Talbert. “By reusing the existing in-building infrastructure, multiple tenants can be served with one 5G FWA connection, and this specification promises more efficient use of 5G resources, simplified and unified management, and reduced operating costs for operators.”
FWA establishes a connection over a radio link for communications between a base station and user equipment, such as 5G modems, that are typically installed in the apartment.
For radio frequencies below 6 GHz, a 5G network is suitable to provide broadband services with a high-level of coverage. But for gigabit-level or multi-gigabit speeds, BSPs want to make use of high-band ‘Frequency Range 2’ 5G mmWave spectrum at 24-40 GHz. This spectrum range has additional signal attenuation when travelling through walls or building materials, so architectures that employ outdoor CPE devices are favored to maximise performance.
“In the past, restrictions set by property owners or the design of existing MDU buildings have limited the possibilities for making high-capacity broadband services available to these subscribers,” added Broadband Forum Network Architecture Work Area Co-Director and Nokia Strategy and Standardisation Manager Christele Bouchat. “The latest specification addresses these limitations by allowing the installation of a high-performance 5G outdoor FWA system that can be shared by potentially dozens of tenants and connected through existing cabling already in the building.”
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