Validating High-Speed FWA Networks in the Real World: A Field Testing Case Study with Freedom Telecom Kazakhstan

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is becoming an increasingly important way to deliver high-speed broadband, particularly where fiber deployment is challenging or where operators need to expand coverage rapidly.

But delivering a high-speed FWA service is not simply about deploying a capable base station or CPE. Operators need to verify whether the network can consistently deliver the expected performance under real-world conditions.

This is where comprehensive FWA network testing and validation becomes critical.

In a recent project with Freedom Telecom Kazakhstan, Dingli supported the validation of a high-speed FWA network using Pilot Pioneer together with a 5G Outdoor CPE, covering both controlled laboratory testing and outdoor drive testing.

The project demonstrates how an integrated FWA testing solution can help operators verify network performance, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and distinguish between equipment capability and actual network performance.

Freedom Telecom: Expanding High-Speed Wireless Connectivity

Freedom Telecom Kazakhstan is a rapidly growing telecommunications and digital infrastructure provider.

The company has been expanding its broadband and wireless connectivity infrastructure, with FWA playing an important role in its strategy for delivering high-speed Internet services.

As part of its broader connectivity expansion, Freedom Telecom has announced ambitious plans to develop nationwide Wi-Fi infrastructure and expand its FWA network. The company's roadmap includes large-scale deployment of Wi-Fi access points and approximately 2,000 FWA base stations, with FWA services targeting speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

Such ambitious network expansion creates a clear requirement for reliable network validation.

For an operator targeting gigabit-level wireless broadband, conventional coverage testing alone is not enough. Network teams need to understand:

• Can the network deliver the expected throughput?
• Can high-speed data services operate reliably?
• Does the network maintain performance under real-world conditions?
• Are performance limitations caused by the network, the CPE, or the test environment?
• Can engineers quickly identify and troubleshoot abnormal behavior?

These were key considerations behind Freedom Telecom's FWA validation project.

FWA Network Validation with Pilot Pioneer and Outdoor CPE

To support the project, Freedom Telecom selected Dingli's Pilot Pioneer Network Testing Solution together with a 5G Outdoor CPE.

The CPE was installed on the roof of a test vehicle, enabling engineers to conduct outdoor drive testing and evaluate FWA performance under realistic operating conditions.

The testing architecture covered two complementary environments:

Laboratory Validation

Testing was first conducted in the customer's internal private-network laboratory environment.

The controlled environment allowed engineers to verify the testing system, CPE connectivity, application services, and high-speed data transmission before moving to outdoor testing.

This was particularly important for the project's demanding throughput target.

The laboratory validation demonstrated that the testing system and data transmission path could support 1 Gbps-level performance under the appropriate test configuration.

Outdoor Drive Testing

After laboratory validation, the solution could be used for outdoor drive testing.

The vehicle-mounted CPE enabled engineers to evaluate FWA performance along actual roads and under real network conditions.

Outdoor testing provides a different perspective from laboratory testing. If the test system has already demonstrated the required throughput in a controlled environment, performance gaps observed outdoors can provide valuable evidence for further investigation of the deployed network, including base station configuration and network optimization.

This makes the combination of lab validation + outdoor drive testing particularly useful for FWA deployment.

Comprehensive FWA Performance and Service Testing

Freedom Telecom's testing requirements went beyond basic speed measurement.

The project included multiple application and performance scenarios to evaluate both network capacity and real user experience.

iPerf Throughput Testing

iPerf was used to evaluate network throughput and provide a controlled method for high-speed performance verification.

This is particularly important for FWA networks targeting gigabit-level broadband services.

Speedtest Benchmarking

Speedtest scenarios provided an additional perspective on the broadband performance experienced through the FWA connection.

Video Browsing

Video service testing was included to evaluate application-level user experience rather than focusing only on network-layer performance.

FTP / SFTP Testing

FTP and SFTP file transfer scenarios were used to assess data service performance and stability in the customer's private network environment.

Together, these testing scenarios provided a more comprehensive view of FWA performance across both network KPIs and application-level QoS/QoE.

Addressing Real-World Testing Challenges

Real network validation rarely follows a completely predictable path.

During the project, the engineering teams encountered connectivity and performance issues that required detailed troubleshooting.

One of the challenges occurred during FTP testing in Freedom Telecom's private network environment.

Pilot Pioneer initially encountered connectivity issues when connecting to the FTP server. After joint troubleshooting between Dingli's on-site technical support engineer and the R&D team in China, the issue was identified as a compatibility gap related to the customer's specific private-network configuration.

Dingli's development team quickly adapted the software for the customer's testing environment and released an updated version the following day, enabling FTP testing to continue.

A second challenge emerged during high-speed throughput validation.

Initial outdoor test results did not reach the expected gigabit-level performance. Further analysis showed that the test network interface configuration, including the Ethernet/NIC setup, needed to be optimized for high-throughput testing.

After the test environment was adjusted, the system was able to demonstrate 1 Gbps-level performance in the controlled laboratory environment.

This troubleshooting process highlighted an important principle of FWA validation:

A measured throughput result is only meaningful when the entire test chain is properly configured.

The test equipment, CPE, Ethernet interface, network configuration, server, and radio network all contribute to the final result.

A professional FWA testing solution should therefore help engineers identify where a performance limitation actually comes from.

More Than Throughput: Making Field Testing More Reliable

In addition to performance testing, Freedom Telecom required features that could improve the reliability and efficiency of field operations.

Pilot Pioneer supported automatic test log recording and replay, reducing the risk of losing test data because an engineer forgot to manually start recording.

The solution also provided voice alerts for connection failures and abnormal events, helping field engineers identify issues without continuously monitoring the test interface.

These capabilities are particularly useful during long-duration drive tests, where engineers need to focus on the test route and network behavior while maintaining complete and traceable test records.

Engineering Support That Goes Beyond the Test Tool

One of the key lessons from this project was that successful network validation requires more than testing equipment.

When unexpected issues emerged, Dingli's on-site technical support engineer worked directly with the R&D team in China to analyze logs, reproduce problems, identify root causes, and validate software and configuration changes.

The rapid engineering response allowed the customer to continue testing without a prolonged troubleshooting cycle.

For network operators, this type of support can be just as important as the testing capabilities themselves—particularly during critical network rollout and acceptance activities.

Supporting More Confident FWA Network Deployment

The Freedom Telecom project demonstrates how a structured FWA validation approach can help operators move from simply measuring network speed to understanding why performance is achieved—or why it falls short.

With Pilot Pioneer and an outdoor 5G CPE, engineers can combine:

• High-speed throughput testing
• CPE-based FWA validation
• Outdoor drive testing
• Private-network service testing
• FTP/SFTP data transfer
• Speedtest benchmarking
• Video service testing
• QoS/QoE evaluation
• Automated test logging and replay
• Real-time voice alerts

This enables operators to establish a more reliable testing workflow from controlled laboratory verification to real-world network validation.

For FWA operators targeting gigabit-level broadband services, such an approach can provide valuable evidence for network rollout, troubleshooting, optimization, and service quality assurance.

Conclusion

As FWA networks continue to expand, network validation is becoming an essential part of ensuring reliable high-speed broadband service.

The Freedom Telecom Kazakhstan project demonstrates the importance of combining high-performance testing, real-world drive testing, application-level service validation, and responsive engineering support.

From validating gigabit-level performance in the laboratory to investigating performance gaps in outdoor environments, Dingli's FWA testing solution helps network engineers gain a clearer understanding of actual network performance—and make more informed decisions during deployment and optimization.

Dingli continues to support operators and network service providers with end-to-end wireless network testing solutions for FWA, 4G, 5G, and emerging connectivity scenarios.