What is Fixed Wireless Internet?

With a growing demand for reliable high-speed home internet, fixed wireless internet has become increasingly popular in remote and rural areas. This guide explores fixed wireless internet, discusses whether it is a secure and reliable internet option, and which providers are most popular among users.

What is Fixed Wireless?

Fixed wireless is a broadband internet type that uses signals from mobile phone towers to deliver an internet connection to homes. Unlike mobile phone signals that are available wherever you go, fixed wireless internet is available at a specific location just like your home WiFi. By plugging your fixed wireless modem into your home, you can simply access the internet through a mobile phone operator’s signal network and enjoy reliable connectivity within your home.

Popular Fixed Wireless Plans

How is Fixed Wireless Different from Other Connection Types?

While fixed wireless internet delivers internet in the same way as any other internet connection, it is slightly different. Other broadband internet connections use one or the other form of cable network to transmit data from their network center to your home. Cable internet providers use a coaxial cable network that is installed from the provider’s network station to your home. Through this cable network, data travels to your home, which is then converted into internet signals either through a Wi-Fi device, or directly through the Ethernet cable.

Cable Internet Uses coaxial cables to transmit data Delivers reliable connection Widely available in urban areas

Fiber internet Uses fiber-optic cables to transmit data Delivers highly reliable connection Available only in urban areas

DSL Internet Uses telephone cables to transmit data Less reliable than cable and fiber internet Available in urban and suburban areas

Satellite Internet Uses signals from satellites in space to transmit data Less reliable than cable, DSL, and fiber internet Available everywhere

Fixed Wireless Internet Uses signals from cell towers to transmit data Reliable in strong coverage areas Available near cell towers nationwide

Similarly, a fiber internet connection uses fiber optic cables to transmit internet signals that you can access directly through a WiFi modem or an Ethernet cable.

In the same way, the oldest internet connection type DSL employs telephone lines to transmit data that is converted into signals through a modem.

Each of these popular connection types uses one or the other types of cable networks that transmit data on the ground to deliver internet signals to your homes. Because these connections require a proper medium to transmit data, they are scarcely available in remote and rural areas.

To cover that gap, satellite, and fixed wireless internet stepped in. Both satellite internet and fixed wireless connections do not require an intricate web of cable networks to connect you to the internet. Satellite internet uses satellites in space to send and receive internet to your home. While it is one of the most popular internet connection types in rural areas, the infrastructural cost is high. Hence, satellite internet is usually priced higher than other connection types.

As for fixed wireless internet, signal towers from existing mobile phone operators transmit internet signals that a modem installed at your home catches. If a fixed wireless provider has a tower near your home, it may be one of the most reliable internet options if you are in a considerably remote area.

Fixed Wireless vs. Mobile Broadband

Fixed wireless and mobile broadband internet both deliver internet through cell phone towers, however, a mobile broadband internet is – as the name suggests, mobile, and can be accessed on the move. On the other hand, fixed wireless internet is installed at a fixed location and offers connectivity within the vicinity of the router only. Fixed wireless internet offers greater bandwidth and is designed to power multiple devices simultaneously.

Advantages of Fixed Wireless Internet

If you’re exploring fixed wireless internet providers, chances are you don’t have access to a cable or fiber network. For users in remote areas, fixed wireless is one of the most reliable high-speed internet options for its affordable price, higher bandwidth, and greater speeds. Here are some of the key advantages of fixed wireless internet:

High Bandwidth – fixed wireless internet is powered by 5G or LTE internet technology, which offers high bandwidth and seamlessly connects multiple devices for intensive online activity.

Low Latency – fixed wireless offers lower latency than satellite or mobile broadband hence ideal for heavy internet usage, gaming, streaming, etc.

Weatherproof Connectivity – enjoy consistent and reliable internet that is resistant to weather changes, unlike satellite internet.

Affordable Prices – fixed wireless internet is cheaper than DSL and satellite internet since no elaborate infrastructure is required for connectivity.

Wide Availability – you can access a fixed wireless internet wherever there is cell phone coverage.

Is Fixed Wireless a Good Option for Home Internet?

All in all, fixed wireless connection is a reliable option for people who do not have access to a cable or fiber internet available in their area. Since fixed wireless does not require a complicated network of cables or an outside source like satellites from outer space, it derives and transmits signals simply from cell towers that are widely spread across the country.

Apart from wide availability, fixed wireless internet offers:

• affordable prices
• high-speed internet
• low latency
• weather resistance
• availability in remote areas

So, if all that sounds enticing, you have your answer!