By John Castro, VP Wholesale and Satellite at Optus
When Optus launched 5G+ last year, we were laying the foundation for a new era of connectivity. Today, that foundation expands with the launch of 5G Standalone Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for our wholesale partners.
This is a significant milestone. For the first time, Optus MVNOs can offer their customers a true 5G Standalone FWA experience, built on a dedicated 5G core, not reliant on 4G infrastructure. Its fast, flexible, and future-ready.
A Challenger Ethos, Three Decades Strong
Optus has always believed in the power of competition to drive innovation. Opening up our mobile and fixed networks to third-party providers in the early 1990s, that same spirit continues to guide our wholesale strategy today. Our wholesale partners are quick to receive a consistent network experience provided across our wider business. Thats been true for mobile and fixed, and now, its now true for 5G Standalone FWA.
What Makes 5G Standalone FWA Different?
This isnt just an upgrade, its a transformation. Unlike non-standalone 5G, which relies on a 4G core, 5G Standalone (SA) is built from the ground up for next-generation performance.
That means:
- Ultra-reliable low latency for real-time applications like cloud gaming, video collaboration, and industrial IoT.
- Massive capacity to support dense device environments and high throughput use cases.
- For MVNOs, this can open the door to new service models and new customer segments.
Whats Available to Wholesale Partners Today
With 5G Standalone FWA now live, Optus wholesale partners can begin offering:
- Differentiated service tiers: Launch premium offerings like fixed-wireless home broadband and low-latency gaming packs without building separate infrastructure.
- Expanding footprint: Tap into Optus rapidly growing 5G+ footprint.
This is a plug-and-play opportunity. Partners can leverage existing interconnects and billing frameworks to get to market faster, with minimal additional operational overhead.
The Commercial Opportunity
5G Standalone FWA isnt just a technical evolution it also opens commercial monetisation opportunities. Enabling faster time-to-revenue due to the plug and play nature of 5G FWA which offers access to high-value verticals, opening doors to sectors that were previously out of reach on 4G or hybrid networks.
Looking Ahead: 5G Standalone Mobile
While todays announcement focuses on FWA, its just the beginning. 5G Standalone Mobile is on track for release later this year, bringing the same core capabilities to mobility use cases. That means even more flexibility, more innovation, and more ways for MVNOs to differentiate.
A Network Built for Real Choice
At Optus Wholesale, we believe our partners should access the very latest in technology. By giving MVNOs access to our 5G Standalone infrastructure, were enabling competition and innovation.
This is about more than connectivity. Its about creating a platform where partners can build, grow and lead, and with 5G Standalone FWA.
