Airgain Unveils Groundbreaking Solar-Powered 5G Smart Repeater Pioneering the Future of Sustainable Connectivity

Rhea-AI Summary

Airgain, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRG) has launched Lighthouse Solar™, a groundbreaking solar-powered 5G Smart Network-Controlled Repeater that operates completely independent of the power grid. This innovative technology offers telecom operators new revenue opportunities while accelerating 5G adoption in remote areas.

Recent field trials demonstrated impressive results, including 20% 5G coverage expansion, speed transformations from 1 Mbps on 4G to an average of over 250 Mbps (with peaks of 425 Mbps), and more than 50% improvement in spectrum efficiency. The solution can be deployed in less than a day without requiring power grids or fiber backhaul, significantly reducing capital and operating expenditures.

Dr. Ali Sadri, CTO at Airgain, emphasized that this breakthrough positions the company at the forefront of the 5G infrastructure revolution by offering a sustainable, grid-independent solution that enables network expansion at lower costs. Airgain will showcase Lighthouse Solar at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (March 3-6), where they'll host an event with Omantel to discuss sustainable 5G wireless solutions.

Positive

• Launched innovative solar-powered 5G Smart Network-Controlled Repeater that operates independent of power grid
• Field trials showed 20% 5G coverage expansion in rural and urban areas
• Demonstrated speed transformation from 1 Mbps to average 250+ Mbps with peaks of 425 Mbps
• More than 50% improvement in spectrum efficiency
• Rapid deployment in less than a day without power grid or fiber backhaul requirements
• Reduces Capital and Operating Expenditures for telecom carriers
• Positions company at forefront of 5G infrastructure revolution

Negative

• None.

Insights

Telecommunications Analyst

Airgain's new Lighthouse Solar™ smart repeater represents a significant technological leap that could substantially enhance the company's market position in the telecom infrastructure space. This isn't merely an incremental product improvement – it's a potential game-changer that addresses fundamental bottlenecks in 5G deployment.

The financial implications for Airgain are substantial. With a modest $78 million market cap, this innovation targets the multi-billion dollar 5G infrastructure market where carriers struggle with the economics of rural deployment. By eliminating the need for fiber backhaul and grid connectivity – typically representing 40-60% of deployment costs – Airgain's solution could dramatically improve ROI calculations for carriers, potentially accelerating adoption cycles.

The performance metrics are particularly compelling: the 20% coverage expansion and 250x speed improvement address precisely what operators need to monetize underserved areas. The 50% spectrum efficiency improvement directly impacts carrier economics, as spectrum is often their most valuable asset.

What's strategically brilliant is how this positions Airgain in the value chain. Rather than competing with infrastructure giants like Ericsson or Nokia, they've created a complementary solution that extends the reach of existing networks. The partnership with Omantel suggests early commercial traction, which could lead to reference deployments that accelerate wider adoption.

For investors, three key metrics will determine success:

• Initial commercial deployment announcements beyond trials
• Gross margin profile compared to Airgain's existing product portfolio
• Customer acquisition costs versus lifetime value

While promising, investors should note potential hurdles including regulatory approvals for wireless repeaters, reliability concerns with solar dependency in certain climates, and potential competitive responses from established infrastructure providers. The company will need to demonstrate that field performance consistently matches trial results across diverse deployment scenarios.

If successfully commercialized, this innovation could transform Airgain from a components player into a strategic infrastructure partner for global telecom operators – potentially rerating the stock as investors recognize the expanded addressable market and improved growth trajectory.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Airgain, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRG) has achieved a major breakthrough in 5G expansion with the successful launch of a self-sustaining, solar-powered Smart Network-Controlled Repeater (NCR) branded as Lighthouse Solar^TM.

Airgain has launched Lighthouse Solar, a solar-powered 5G smart repeater (Photo: Airgain)

Fully detached from the power grid, this revolutionary technology unlocks new revenue opportunities for telecom operators, accelerates 5G adoption in remote areas, and reinforces Airgain’s leadership in next-generation wireless solutions.

With telecom infrastructure expansion often hindered by geographical challenges and high deployment costs, Airgain’s Lighthouse Solar^TM Smart NCR system offers a highly scalable, fast to market, and cost-efficient alternative to traditional fiber and power-dependent solutions. Recent field trial demonstrations confirm its transformative market potential:

• 20% 5G coverage expansion, increasing addressable market reach in rural and urban areas.

• Unprecedented speed transformation observed in the recent trial– soaring from 1 Mbps on existing 4G networks to an average of over 250 Mbps, with peak speeds hitting 425 Mbps, even in previously underserved locations.

• More than 50% improvement in spectrum efficiency, maximizing network utilization and boosting operator profitability.

• Superior link quality, enhancing data throughput in challenging environments.

• Rapid deployment in less than a day, eliminating reliance on power grids and fiber backhaul, reducing Capital Expenditures and Operating Expenditures for telecom carriers.

“This breakthrough positions Airgain at the forefront of the 5G infrastructure revolution,” said Dr. Ali Sadri, Chief Technology Officer at Airgain. “By offering a sustainable, grid-independent, and rapidly deployable solution, we are enabling telecom operators to expand their networks at lower costs, increase service reliability, and drive greater monetization opportunities—all while advancing global connectivity.”

With push for sustainable telecom solutions worldwide, and rising demand for 5G coverage expansion, Airgain’s Lighthouse Solar^TM NCR system presents a compelling investment opportunity in the evolving digital infrastructure market. By removing traditional deployment bottlenecks, this solution opens the door to faster 5G rollouts, enhanced user experiences and significantly improves customer satisfaction and long-term cost savings for service providers.

Airgain will be showcasing its Lighthouse Solar solution at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona from March 3 – 6 where they will be hosting an event with partners Omantel to discuss sustainable and smart 5G wireless system solutions. Find out more and register to attend the event, here.

Notes to editors

Airgain executives will also be available for briefings at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona, from March 3 – 6 to discuss the transformative benefits of Lighthouse Solar. Please get in touch if you would be interested in booking an interview.

About Airgain, Inc.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, Airgain, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRG) is a leading provider of advanced wireless connectivity solutions that drive cutting-edge innovation in 5G technology. We are committed to delivering high-performance, cost-effective, and energy-efficient wireless solutions that enable rapid market deployment. Our mission is to connect the world through integrated, innovative, and optimized wireless solutions. Our diverse product portfolio serves three primary markets: enterprise, automotive, and consumer.

For more information, visit airgain.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250225231962/en/

Media contact:

Martyn Gettings, Tank PR

martyn.gettings@tank.co.uk

Source: Airgain, Inc.

FAQ

What is Airgain's Lighthouse Solar and how does it improve 5G connectivity?

Lighthouse Solar is Airgain's solar-powered 5G Smart Network-Controlled Repeater that operates independently from the power grid. It improves 5G connectivity by expanding coverage by 20%, transforming speeds from 1 Mbps to over 250 Mbps (with peaks of 425 Mbps), and improving spectrum efficiency by more than 50%.

How much can AIRG's Lighthouse Solar reduce deployment costs for telecom operators?

AIRG's Lighthouse Solar significantly reduces both Capital Expenditures and Operating Expenditures for telecom operators by eliminating reliance on power grids and fiber backhaul infrastructure, while enabling deployment in less than a day.

What are the key benefits of Airgain's solar-powered 5G repeater for rural areas?

For rural areas, AIRG's solar-powered 5G repeater offers rapid deployment without power grid requirements, transforms connectivity from 1 Mbps to 250+ Mbps, expands 5G coverage by 20%, and provides a sustainable solution for previously underserved locations.

When and where will Airgain (AIRG) showcase its Lighthouse Solar technology?

Airgain (AIRG) will showcase its Lighthouse Solar technology at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona from March 3-6, where they will host an event with partners Omantel to discuss sustainable and smart 5G wireless system solutions.

How does AIRG's Lighthouse Solar technology impact spectrum efficiency for telecom operators?

AIRG's Lighthouse Solar technology improves spectrum efficiency by more than 50%, which maximizes network utilization and boosts operator profitability through more effective use of available spectrum resources.