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As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into business operations, the network infrastructure that supports data flow and computing power must also evolve rapidly. AI workloads demand ultra-fast, reliable, and low-latency connections to access distributed computing resources – whether in the cloud, at the edge, or on-premise.
Fixed networks are a crucial component of digital infrastructure and are constantly evolving to address the needs of the AI era. This shift is evident in the development of the new Fifth Generation Fixed Network Advanced (F5G-A) standard, released by European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Industry Specification Group (ISG) F5G in its Release 3 in 2024.
Unlike earlier phases of fixed network growth, which lacked a clearly defined generational structure, F5G-A marks the beginning of a more coordinated approach, similar to how wireless standards have evolved from 3G to 5G and now 5G-A.
"Everybody is familiar with the concepts of 3G, 4G, and 5G in mobile networks, and now, we are doing something similar in fixed networks", said Martin Creaner, Director General of the World Broadband Association (WBBA). "ETSI released the F5G standard a while back, which points out the development direction of fixed networks, and has recently announced F5G-A, which is like a 5G-A version of 5G."
Through collaboration with ETSI, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and other standards organizations, WBBA is contributing to the overall development and promotion of fixed network standards. To this end, it has developed a generational roadmap for fixed networks, closely aligned with the F5G and F5G-A standards of ETSI. It works with regional partners to guide them in selecting developmental paths as per their unique needs. WBBA is also working towards informing the industry through white papers, research, and regional events to accelerate the deployment of F5G-A networks.
Why F5G-A matters in the AI era
In the past, the progress of fixed networks has been fragmented, with different countries and regions advancing at different speeds using different technologies. Now, F5G-A offers a reference point, helping align efforts and investments more efficiently.
AI places a heavy demand on the bandwidth that businesses and consumers will need, but it also impacts how we operate our networks and even how we plan and deploy our networks. Martin Creaner,
Director General of WBBA
"In the past, while fixed networks would of course be constantly evolving, it was based on a wide range of capabilities (those of cables, fibers, copper, etc.)," said Creaner, "and was never really wrapped up under a single generational banner. Now the industry is putting a stake in the ground, saying that these technologies are indicative of this generation, meaning faster speeds, lower latency, and better quality for everyone."
F5G-A is focused on ensuring 10 Gbps speeds, extremely low latency, and ultra-reliable connections, all of which are needed to support AI applications. The F5G-A standard espouses the concept of "10 Gigabit Everywhere", which aims to deliver 10 gigabit to all businesses and homes.
"F5G-A promises to provide over 10 times higher bandwidth, 10 times denser fiber connections, and 10 times better reliability. It will yield 10x better energy efficiency and less than 1 ms latency, while allowing 1-meter location accuracy."
It leverages a group of core technologies, including 50G PON, Wi-Fi 7, and 400G/800G optical transport, as the key enablers of next-gen connectivity. These technologies work together to create networks that are faster, more stable, and more adaptable to future demands. F5G-A proposes deploying via fiber in high-bandwidth urban and suburban areas, while using fixed wireless access (FWA) as a fallback approach in areas that are more difficult to reach.
Service providers such as Hong Kong Telecom are realizing the importance of this standard in catering to the evolving demands of businesses and consumers. Specifically, HKT has been among the first to provide broadband solutions meeting the F5G-A standard. The adoption of F5G-A will help them build a robust foundation of network infrastructure capable of enabling the latest use cases, like AI applications, 8K video streaming, online gaming, and cloud computing, among others.
"AI places a heavy demand on the bandwidth that businesses and consumers will need, but it also impacts how we operate our networks and even how we plan and deploy our networks", said Creaner. "For example, the WBBA has just released a paper on the role AI is playing in the pre-deployment phases of broadband, highlighting how it helps make the decision between deploying via fiber or fixed wireless access or satellites."
In closing
As the world moves further into the AI era, network infrastructure must evolve concurrently. F5G-A provides a much-needed generational framework for fixed networks, delivering the ultra-fast, reliable, and scalable connectivity that AI demands. With standards bodies, industry associations, and global telecoms aligned, F5G-A is poised to become the foundation on which the next wave of digital innovation is built.
