Fixed wireless broadband is an alternative way of connecting to the internet which is steadily growing in popularity. Worldwide, 60 million people have fixed wireless broadband access – slightly less than the number of people in the UK – and that number is predicted to double over the next few years. But while 60 million might sound like a lot, it’s still only less than 1% of the global population. By comparison, it’s estimated that there are 1.3 billion wired broadband connections globally.
This lack of prevalence is why you might not be aware of fixed wireless broadband or, if you have heard of it, why you might not know exactly what it is. Most people only discover fixed wireless when they find themselves unable to access cable broadband and begin to look into other options, so if that sounds like you, here’s everything you need to know about fixed wireless broadband.
What is fixed wireless broadband?
Fixed wireless broadband is a type of broadband where the connection signal is beamed from a fixed point to a receiver, rather than being sent through cables as with most traditional broadband solutions. Cable broadband is widespread throughout the UK but commonly runs into issues when attempting to serve hard-to-reach areas.
There are other alternatives to cable broadband, but few are as fit for the purpose of providing rural communities with superfast internet as fixed wireless. For example, satellite broadband is often broached as an alternate solution but has problems with latency – the time it takes for the data to travel from transmitter to receiving point. High latency is what can cause lagging even when you’ve checked your connection speed and it seems like it should be fast enough. Fixed wireless, on the other hand, has much lower latency as the data only has to travel around 10 miles from the nearest mast, as opposed to 20,000 miles from earth’s orbit.
How does fixed wireless broadband work?
Fixed wireless broadband works by creating a fixed point from which an internet connection signal is beamed. This is normally done by attaching a transmitter to a dedicated mast and wiring it into an ISP (internet service provider) network. Through the use of specific radio frequencies, this transmitter tower then sends out a signal to any local receiving points. These receivers are usually in the form of a small satellite dish that has been placed on an external wall of the home or business requiring internet access.
The signal is sent directly between transmitter and receiver without being dispersed anywhere else. This means that, unlike a public WiFi signal, it can’t be picked up by other people or properties that do not have a receiver installed. Once the signal reaches the receiving point or points, it is sent to the router and dispersed around the property as a WiFi signal that devices can connect to.
The key to fixed wireless internet is that a clear line of sight is needed between the transmitter and receiver. Buildings and other obstructions can disrupt the signal, resulting in patchy or lost connection.
Who is fixed wireless broadband for?
In theory, fixed wireless broadband is an option for anyone who is near enough to a mast and has a clear line of sight between them. Even if you are not near to an existing mast, most providers will be open to installing one in your area if there is enough backing from other locals. It’s unlikely that those living in cities would use fixed wireless, as it’s not a viable option due to the number of visible obstructions and ease of using existing cable broadband solutions.
However, there are plenty of people who would benefit from fixed wireless internet. Homes and businesses in rural locations are the ideal use case, as cable broadband often can’t be installed in these areas due to a lack of infrastructure and the cost associated with expanding it. People who struggle with traditional broadband in general, whether because of poor signal, damaged cables, or no cables at all, can all look to fixed wireless as a potential answer to their problems. Those needing temporary WiFi might also find that fixed wireless broadband is the most suitable solution.
The pros and cons of fixed wireless broadband
As with all things, there are both positives and negatives when it comes to fixed wireless broadband.
Here are the key pros and cons:
Fixed wireless broadband benefits
- No cables are required
- No phone line is required
- It’s easy to set up
- The connection is reliable
- It solves a lot of the problems associated with rural WiFi
- Speeds are often faster than traditional broadband because there are no data caps
Fixed wireless broadband drawbacks
- There might not be a mast near your area, and possibly never will be without enough demand from other locals
- If you don’t have a clear line of sight to the transmitter point, then you won’t be able to access the connection
- Depending on the provider, fixed wireless might be more expensive than cable broadband
Knowing these advantages and disadvantages, as well as understanding all of the different types of internet, will help you to make an informed choice about whether fixed wireless broadband is the right option for you.
How to get fixed wireless internet
So, you’ve done the research and have decided that fixed wireless is the way to go – the next step is to actually get set up. You can fill in our online contact form to receive a call back from one of Wave Internet’s expert team, or call us straight away on 01254 377373.
If you still aren’t sure whether fixed wireless is the best internet solution for you, or if you’re simply interested in learning more about it first, you can still have a no-obligation chat with one of our advisers. Alternatively, you can use our coverage checker first, to find out whether we already offer fixed wireless broadband in your area.
