Terrestrial Fixed Wireless Internet In The United States.
45% Fixed-Wireless COVERAGE
FIXED-WIRELESS COVERAGE NATIONWIDE
For a full list of providers offering fixed wireless internet service, visit the fixed wireless provider page where we list every provider in the US and the communities they serve.
Fixed Wireless Performance
As with all types of broadband services, speeds and plans of fixed wireless service vary from provider to provider.
In general, residential fixed wireless plans are comparable to DSL or cable in terms of speeds offered — in the neighborhood of 5–50 Mbps.
Business-class fixed wireless plans are often much faster, with leading companies offering 500 Mbps symmetrical plans that rival dedicated fiber in terms of reliability, security, and speed of installation.
While these speeds aren’t astounding they can be an incredibly appealing option, especially as an alternative to satellite service. Fixed Wireless is often available in areas with a low concentration of wired options due to the flexible nature of fixed wireless deployment.
Should You Get Fixed Wireless Internet Service?
For consumers who have relied on old dial-up connections, or satellite for their internet connections, the introduction of fixed wireless broadband into their area can be a game changer. If you live in a rural area and have few options for internet access, then fixed wireless can be a great choice.
Benefits
For consumers who have few other options besides satellite fixed wireless can be a great alternative.
Large Coverage Area
One of the most appealing benefits of fixed wireless broadband is its broad consumer availability.
Because service providers aren’t required to invest heavily in new cable and infrastructure, offering service to larger areas is often more cost effective.
Relatively Low Latency
One of the key benefits of fixed wireless broadband over other rural technologies is its relatively low latency making online gaming and video conferencing programs such as Skype feasible.
Limitations
Line of Sight
One of the biggest limitations of fixed wireless internet is that in most implementations the antenna at the consumer’s premises and the ground station of the provider must have a direct line of sight.
This can be problematic in different types of terrain and it also makes fixed wireless connections subject to different weather conditions.
Security Considerations
Encryption and authentication are the key considerations for network engineers implimenting fixed wireless service. While the security concerns for a wireless service are somewhat different from a wired one, the protocols for encrypting and authenticating connections are generaly equally secure between the two technology types.
Average Higher Residential Cost
Depending on your service area, residential fixed wireless is often slightly more expensive for the speed you receive. However, it’s often worth considering since fixed wireless providers tend to be smaller than “big cable” corporations and have local customer support and are usually faster to fix any outages or issues.
Rain Fade
Like any wireless service, severe storms can cause a slight reduction in download and upload speeds called “rain fade.”