What Is Fixed Wireless Internet? An Introductory Guide

Fixed wireless internet is transforming how homes, businesses, and connected devices access reliable, high-speed internet, especially in locations where traditional wired broadband solutions are unavailable and too costly to install. Instead of relying on fiber or cable lines, fixed wireless delivers internet via secure radio signals transmitted from cellular towers directly to stationary receivers installed at a customer’s location. This allows organizations to bypass expensive infrastructure and bring broadband-grade internet to remote residences, temporary work zones, and businesses in rural communities. 

Whether used as a primary connection or failover backup, fixed wireless internet is a scalable, low-latency solution that bridges the digital divide with rapid deployment, broad availability, and performance that rivals wired networks. This technology enables organizations to launch operations faster, scale efficiently, and maintain connectivity where it matters most. 

In this article, we will explore how fixed wireless redefines what's possible for last-mile connectivity. We’ll explain how it’s used, break down its advantages and challenges, answer commonly asked questions, and discuss how Zipit Wireless’s high-data fixed wireless plans can help your business expand your service offerings. 

What is fixed wireless internet?

Fixed wireless internet is a broadband connection that delivers localized high-speed, reliable internet to a fixed location, like a home, business, or IoT deployment site. This connectivity method uses radio signals beamed from cellular towers to specific access points rather than traditional cables or fiber optics. Fixed wireless internet (also known as fixed wireless access or FWA) is designed for targeted, stationary use, unlike wireless mobile data. 

Fixed wireless internet is ideal for locations without preexisting fiber optic infrastructure that can access cellular networks. It’s an economical and highly effective connectivity solution for rural or remote locations, where the complex installation of underground cables is cost-prohibitive and time-consuming. 

Fixed wireless internet strategies facilitate both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint setups, as they are designed to cover distances without physical cables for each access point. They support both 4G LTE and 5G technologies, allowing them to provide ultra-low latency and high speeds comparable to fiber connections.    

Learn more: 6 Types of Wireless IoT Technology

Where is fixed wireless internet used?

Fixed wireless is used as a primary connection for homes in rural or isolated locations where traditional wired options like DSL, fiber, or cable are unavailable or unreliable. It’s often used for industrial IoT applications in temporary or remote settings. Fixed wireless is also frequently leveraged as a backup connection for businesses that rely heavily on continuous internet connectivity for success. 

Fixed wireless as a primary connection

Fixed wireless internet can expertly handle high-data applications, like streaming television shows at home, supporting an office of internet-connected professionals, or providing connectivity to 24-hour surveillance cameras and industrial devices at temporary construction sites. It provides fast, dependable, and scalable connectivity to a wide array of internet-connected applications to locations where a wired connection presents a challenge. 

Fixed wireless provides on-demand, reliable internet solutions for a multitude of diverse short-term applications, like vacation properties, music festivals, oil fields with industrial IoT, remote filming locations, and retail pop-ups.

Fixed wireless as a backup connection

Fixed wireless can also be deployed as a backup connection or failover option for mission-critical applications where uninterrupted connectivity is paramount. This could include use cases like cold chain monitoring, healthcare appliances, or security systems. The addition of fixed wireless also diversifies coverage options and adds resiliency to enterprises looking to maximize efficiency and limit disruption.

How does fixed wireless internet work?

Fixed wireless internet works by transmitting high-speed internet data over radio frequencies from a tower or base station to a receiver installed at the customer’s location. This coverage solution uses existing cellular coverage to cover gaps in connectivity between cables laid by traditional Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

1. Internet data is wirelessly broadcast from a stationary base or tower

ISPs provide fixed wireless internet coverage by connecting their network to the broader internet backbone. This is done via fiber or another high-capacity source at a base station or central tower. The stations use radio frequencies (like 2.4 GHz, 5 GHZ, or mmWave for 5G FWA) to transmit data. 

2. The receiver antenna captures the signal at the customer's fixed location

A small embedded or attached antenna that connects to a gateway (a Wi-Fi router and modem) receives the direct radio signal from cell towers and base stations. These gateways connect devices at that location to the internet. 

3. Radio signals are converted into internet

The wireless signal is captured by the antenna and converted into usable broadband internet. 

4. The router distributes internet to the fixed location and its devices 

The signal is passed to a router or gateway within the home, office, or site, distributing internet to all the connected devices via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cables.

What are the advantages of fixed wireless internet?

Fixed wireless internet offers widely available, versatile, and affordable connectivity to those looking for high-speed, low-latency internet access in remote locations. Its quick deployment, resiliency, and scalability make it ideal for IoT use cases as well as more permanent applications like homes and workplaces.

1. High bandwidth

4G LTE and 5G fixed wireless internet provide a strong source of connectivity for devices with high data consumption. This means your devices can share more data in a shorter time, making it ideal for industrial and agricultural IoT deployments in remote locations. 

2. Rapid deployment

Fixed wireless can be deployed quickly, easily, and cost-effectively. With fixed wireless, there’s no need to modify existing cellular infrastructure implementation. Access points, antennae, and gateways are all that is required. Fast, inexpensive deployment makes it perfectly suited for IoT deployments, pop-up businesses, and temporary construction or industrial work sites. 

3. Affordability

Laying new underground fiber or cable is a labor-intensive, complex undertaking that costs tens of thousands of dollars per mile. This is prohibitively expensive for many homeowners or small businesses and can discourage short-term IoT deployment sites that need connectivity. Fixed wireless internet provides comparable speeds and reliability at a fraction of the cost, making it widely accessible and affordable. 

4. Low latency and high-speed connectivity

Fixed wireless has lower latency than satellite or mobile broadband and is one of the best high-speed internet solutions to bridge the digital divide for rural and remote locations. Fixed wireless can also offer broadband speeds comparable or DSL or cable, and even fiber equivalent speeds with 5G FWA. When properly implemented, it can support video streaming, VoIP, remote monitoring, and data-heavy applications.   

5. Reliability

Fixed wireless internet is an ideal redundant connection to ensure ongoing access if fiber or cable experiences outages or instability. As a backup option, fixed wireless has become popular among businesses and critical infrastructures that need failover connectivity. 

6. Scalability

Fixed wireless internet can easily add antennas to accommodate new users and expand coverage. Additional internet-enabled devices can be immediately connected to pre-existing fixed wireless points without hassle or extra expenses. The scalability of this solution allows it to extend access to growing rural communities, scale worksites, facilitate IoT deployments, and support connectivity for short-term events.    

7. Weather resistance and resiliency

Fixed wireless internet is more weather-resistant than satellite or DSL and is less likely to experience storm-related disruptions. It has lower latency than satellite internet and is less prone to signal delays, helping to improve continuity of connectivity and bolster data transmission reliability.

8. Broad availability and coverage area

The primary benefit of fixed wireless is its widespread availability. Fixed wireless can offer high-speed, reliable internet in locations without wired connections like fiber or cable. Fixed wireless is accessible anywhere with cellular service at a more accessible cost than laying new cables for the same level of connectivity. Many isolated, rural, and remote residences and workplaces can access fixed wireless internet via base towers, offering reliable last-mile connectivity without relying on mobile data plans.

9. Higher data caps

Fixed wireless internet tends to have higher data caps than mobile wireless plans. Some providers even offer unlimited, unthrottled internet access via fixed wireless, though  

What are the challenges of fixed wireless internet?

As versatile and useful as fixed wireless internet is, it does not come without some challenges for successful and effective deployment. Users should consider their surrounding geography and distance from cellular towers when deciding if this connectivity solution is viable for their needs. 

1. Line of sight requirements

Fixed wireless internet often needs an unobstructed line of sight between the antenna to the tower or base station for optimal performance. If geographic terrain or buildings block the cellular signal, speed and reliability can suffer. Proper planning is crucial to the successful implementation of fixed wireless internet, and in many cases, may be sufficient to avert detrimental interference. However, in particularly mountainous or tree-filled areas, signal strength may be unavoidably degraded.

2. Performance variability 

In general, fixed wireless internet can be less consistent than wired connections. Bandwidth can fluctuate based on tower load and distance, and signal strength and speed can drop over long distances or high elevations. Some frequency bands are prone to congestion and interference. It can encounter capacity limitations or performance drops if there are too many users connected to the network.

3. Lack of mobility

As the name suggests, fixed wireless is designed for stationary applications and is tied to a single location. It cannot support mobile applications, making it ill-suited for IoT devices that need to travel. Devices cannot move about freely without reinstalling the connection. 

What is the difference between fixed wireless internet and mobile broadband internet?

The key difference between fixed wireless and mobile broadband (MBB) is that fixed wireless provides a stationary connection, whereas mobile broadband provides on-the-go connectivity that moves with devices. Mobile broadband is also a wireless internet service that provides high-speed internet access through cellular networks like 4G LTE or 5G. Both provide homes, businesses, and devices with connectivity solutions, but they apply to different use cases. 

Fixed wireless internet is designed to connect multiple devices with high data usage in a single location. MBB provides connectivity for portable devices like tablets, mobile IoT like asset trackers, and wearable technology. Fixed wireless internet requires installation via a mounted antenna aimed at a tower or base station, but mobile broadband uses SIM cards (or eSIMs) and cellular towers to connect to the internet. 

There are some rare exceptions where fixed wireless internet makes sense for portable devices. For example, RVs can make use of fixed wireless despite being mobile. In practice, a parked RV is more like a home than a vehicle, and a stationary RV may have higher data needs than it would require when traveling on the road.

Learn more: Transitioning to Cellular IoT: How to Make the Switch

Frequently asked questions about fixed wireless internet

When customers are presented with fixed wireless internet as a connectivity solution, they often have questions about the speed, security, and viability for businesses or IoT deployments. Understanding FWA’s performance capabilities, pricing, and potential limitations is essential for maximizing success.

Is fixed wireless internet slow?

Fixed wireless internet is not inherently slow. Fixed wireless internet can offer speeds comparable to and even faster than DSL and satellite. This solution can even match the speeds of fiber, thanks to innovations like 5G FWA, with download speeds of 100-1000 Mbps and a latency of 10-20 ms. 

However, the speed of fixed wireless connections is dependent on several factors. Long distances from cellular towers can impact performance, as can obstructed visibility. Network congestion can also slow down internet speeds, and heavy interference from overcrowded towers and other radio signals can slow down fixed wireless speeds. Ensuring clear lines-of-sight, installing high-gain antennas, and upgrading to 5G FWA can all help protect high speeds. 

Is fixed wireless internet secure?

Fixed wireless internet can be a secure connectivity choice when configured properly. Fixed wireless typically uses end-to-end encryption to protect customer data from interception. Routers and antennas include firewalls, access controls, and VPN capabilities that offer added levels of security. Providers often use licensed spectrum, which provides exclusive access to frequencies and is less likely to experience malicious interference than unlicensed counterparts.

Fixed wireless connections are also dedicated to specific customers, locations, or applications, which reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access compared to an open Wi-Fi network. Businesses and IoT companies with security concerns can deploy a private FWA network to tightly control traffic and administrative access. They can also deploy network segmentation, SIM-based identity authentication, and secure device provisioning to further safeguard data and maximize security. 

Is fixed wireless internet a viable option for businesses?

Cellular fixed wireless access is an excellent primary source of internet for small businesses, mid-market companies, and enterprises that send teams or departments into different geographies for months-long projects. It is increasingly used across diverse industries, like retail, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.  

Fixed wireless internet can be an excellent alternative to other forms of broadband. 5G fixed wireless is now ahead of DSL or satellite and comparable to wired internet in terms of speed and quality. Its scalability, flexibility, and quick deployment make it ideal for new branches, pop-ups, remote offices, and IoT use cases. It’s also useful for businesses that need to begin operations while awaiting fiber connections. The lower infrastructural costs make it well-suited for industrial or rural zones where cable installation is prohibitively expensive. 

For companies with wired internet, fixed wireless may be a good backup internet option should your primary internet source lose connectivity. Many businesses use FWA as a failover connection to maintain uptime and maximize productivity. Network redundancy is also crucial for mission-critical business applications where a loss of internet can imperil operations.

Examples of business use cases for fixed wireless: 

• Cellular security cameras and surveillance equipment
• Construction sites and temporary operations
• Rural warehouses
• Industrial IoT deployments like smart agriculture, mining, and utility monitoring 
• Healthcare clinics in rural and underserved communities
• Logistics hubs and distribution centers
• Backup connectivity for retail POS

How much does fixed wireless internet cost?

The cost of fixed wireless data plans varies widely based on the location, speeds, application, bundling options, and provider. Competitive plans from cellular carriers can start as low as $25-$50 per month.  Some rural areas, businesses, and complex IoT deployments may require faster speeds, higher data caps, and encounter more demanding infrastructural obstacles, leading to costs closer to $75-$250 a month. However, as spectrum becomes more widely available, the cost and ease of deploying fixed wireless internet will only improve. 

An experienced connectivity provider like Zipit Wireless can recommend the most cost-effective fixed wireless solutions, helping you navigate connectivity solutions that best meet your enterprise’s unique needs. 

Are there data or device limits with fixed wireless internet?

Data limits depend heavily on your chosen plan, but fixed wireless internet offers much higher data allowances and speeds than phone plans, satellite, or DSL. Device limits are uncommon with fixed wireless internet, though older networks may impose some restrictions. 

Many providers offer high data caps and unlimited plans, particularly those utilizing 5G technology. These high data plans are commonly used by businesses and temporary worksites. Some residential plans may implement “soft caps”, where speeds are throttled after a certain threshold or deprioritized during heavy network congestion. Some applications, like fixed-location smart meters, cameras, and sensors, may employ usage-based data policies. Overage fees can apply to metered plans when usage exceeds the data limits. However, by partnering with a reliable MVNO, your company can access customized enterprise data plans that allow you to flexibly scale operations and avoid throttling. 

Zipit Wireless specializes in high data usage or unlimited 5G fixed wireless plans for rural ISPs, MSPs, and enterprises. Zipit’s SIM cards can also allow your organization to set up private network traffic routing for greater control over your data and the devices that can connect to the network. Whatever your fixed wireless data needs, we can provide you with the connectivity, hardware from trusted partners, and a simple platform where you can manage and monetize data use from connected devices and gain analytics and business insights. 

Unlock fixed wireless connectivity with Zipit Wireless

Fixed wireless internet exemplifies how 5G and the continuing evolution of 4G LTE are expanding cellular connectivity options for large enterprises. Fixed wireless solutions are creating new opportunities for massive-scale IoT deployments and reshaping the future of innovation and interconnected possibilities., Zipit Wireless’s high-data fixed wireless plan options are ideal for ISPs and MSPs looking to include fixed wireless solutions as part of their service offering portfolio.

Zipit is committed to offering competitively priced wireless services customized to meet the unique needs of every customer. We leverage our relationships with major global carriers to provide our customers with reliable, flexible global connectivity at unbeatable prices. Through our connectivity and billing solutions portals, we simplify device management and empower businesses to pursue sustainable, data-driven growth strategies through subscriptions and monetization opportunities.

Connect with us and learn more about how Zipit can help you maximize efficiency and accelerate growth through our creative, customized connectivity solutions. Together, we can bridge the digital divide and provide high-speed, dependable internet access to homes and businesses regardless of their location. 

You may also like: 

• What Is Telecom Billing and How to Choose Billing Software for IoT Devices
• What is GSMA SGP.32 for eSIMs?
• OSS/BSS in Telecom: A Comprehensive Guide for IoT Applications