Nextlink Internet, based in the United States, has completed field testing of delivering data over the 6GHz spectrum band in advance for large-scale gigabit fixed wireless access (FWA) deployments across its footprint by the end of the year.

Nextlink Internet achieved download data rates of more than 1Gb/s and upload data rates of 500Mb/s using an FCC experimental license.

The tests were carried out “under full load” and at a distance of two miles, according to the firm.

Nextlink Internet CTO Cameron Kilton noted that the company expected commercial deployment throughput to exceed the speeds achieved in the tests after discovering inefficiencies in its testing scenarios.

Cambium Networks’ FWA points and Qualcomm‘s subscriber modules were used in the trial.

Bill Baker, CEO of Nextlink Internet, indicated that the company plans to offer the service to more than 4 million households and companies across its territory, which includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois.

CSO Claude Aiken noted FWA allows the operator to launch the gigabit network faster than using fiber. “We eagerly await the FCC’s approval of the automated frequency coordination so that we can begin deploying this across our footprint.”

Verizon and T-Mobile US have been vocal supporters of FWA-based services in the United States, and UScellular recently launched a service in portions of ten cities.