Fixed unlimited wireless internet uses radio waves instead of phone lines or cable to establish an internet connection. Because the infrastructure for DSL and cable internet services is often lacking, fixed wireless internet is mostly used by rural residents.
Fixed wireless internet requires that your internet provider install a small receiver on your exterior. This is similar to satellite internet. The outdoor receiver receives the signal from the company’s nearest land-based wireless internet tower.
A technician will wire your house using a cable from the outdoor receiver to the router. This signal will be carried inside the home. Fixed wireless signals are less vulnerable to weather conditions than satellite internet. Satellite internet must travel through the atmosphere.
Top Fixed Wireless Internet Providers
These are the top fixed internet companies:
- AT&T: Available in 18 States
- Frontier: Available in the Nine States
- GHz wireless: Only available in Texas
- Rise Broadband: Available in 16 States
- Etheric Networks: Available in California
- King Street Wireless: available in 19 states
- Verizon LTE: Available in 10 States
Fixed Wireless Internet Providers
How close you are to a tower determines your eligibility for fixed wireless internet. The stronger and more reliable signal you receive, the closer you are to a tower.
Who Uses Fixed Wireless Internet?
Residents in rural or remote areas often use fixed wireless internet because there aren’t many other options such as DSL or cable internet. Internet providers may find it too expensive to install a DSL or fibre-optic cable infrastructure for a small number of homes. Fixed wireless internet is easier to offer because all that’s needed is installing a receiver outside the home that captures the company’s broadband waves.
Your eligibility for fixed wireless internet largely depends on how close you are to a cellular tower. The closer you are to a tower, the stronger and more reliable of a signal you’ll be able to receive. With this in mind, here are some of the top providers available and how they compare to each other:
How Does Fixed Wireless Internet Compare to Other Internet Types?
Rural homeowners have limited options when it comes to internet service. Besides fixed wireless, the main alternative is satellite internet service. Here’s how the two compare:
Fixed wireless internet vs satellite internet
Satellite and fixed wireless internet both require a dish that needs to be installed on your rooftop with a clear sightline to the closest tower for fixed wireless or the sky for satellite. Both types of internet are affected by bad weather, although satellite internet is affected more frequently.
Fixed wireless internet has better latency (the time it takes for data to be sent from the provider to your devices) than satellite internet because of the distance the broadband needs to travel. Wireless towers maybe just be a few miles away compared to a satellite. The lower the latency, the faster and more reliable the connection is for streaming and online video games.
Fixed Wireless Expansion
Expanding fixed wireless internet service is vital in granting access to rural communities. This allows people who live in these communities to work from home, improve communications and much more. Nextlink will soon be a new provider on the scene on this front. They recently announced a partnership with Nokia and Google to provide fixed wireless internet service to 14 million rural communities.
In addition, providers who currently offer fixed wireless services are looking to expand more into rural communities. AT&T is adding more services to rural areas, while GHz Wireless covers under-served communities in Florida and California. This is a positive trend as more ISPs understand the importance of providing reliable service in rural areas.
Pros and cons of Fixed Wireless internet
PROS
- Availability: Fixed wireless internet provides access to rural areas where you wouldn’t receive a reliable internet connection without it. Many providers won’t have cable or fibre internet service if you live far away from more populated areas.
- No phone line needed: Fixed wireless internet transmit to your home in radio waves captured by a receiver installed in your home. You won’t need a telephone connection for internet service.
- Affordability: Compared to satellite internet, fixed wireless is often less expensive, with some packages starting as low as $28/mo.
- Low latency and service interruptions: Your internet speeds should be fairly stable and have low latency (delays in internet response time) due to the relatively short distances between your internet provider’s wireless towers and your home’s receiver.
CONS
- Cost: It service is sometimes more expensive than other options such as cable and DSL. In comparison, some fixed internet plans can be as much as $50 per month, whereas cable internet plans offering the same or better download speeds can start as low as $35 per month (Xfinity.)
- Equipment: Your internet provider will need to install a small dish onto your home to receive the wireless signal. Normally, they install equipment on your home’s roof. That way, it can receive a clear signal for the strongest performance.
- Weather interruptions: Just like satellite internet and TV, bad weather due to fog, rain or snow could affect your internet connection, though it’s less likely due to using land-based towers instead of orbiting satellites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment and installation need for fixed wireless internet?
A technician will need to install a dish-like receiver outside your home with a clear sightline to the nearest wireless tower. In fact, The dish usually mounte on the rooftop away from trees and other obstructions. The technician will also wire your receiver into your home and connect a router to deliver wireless internet to all users in the home.
Does fixed wireless internet use a phone line?
It’s service deliver wirelessly. No cables require, nor is a telephone line necessary.
How much does fixed wireless internet cost?
Depending on the provider and speed. It can range between $ and $/mo.
How fast fix wireless internet?
Fixed wireless speeds run between 25 Mbps and 50 Mbps on average. The connection is usually stable with low latency because the signal doesn’t have to travel too far to reach your home in most cases.
