Fixed wireless is the quiet workhorse of rural and edge-of-town internet. It skips the expensive part of a wired network — the cable to every house — by sending the connection over the air from a tower to your home.
How it works
A provider mounts radios on a tower, grain elevator, water tank or tall building. Your home gets a receiver: either a small antenna on the roof pointed at that tower, or an indoor gateway that picks up a cellular signal. From there it connects to your Wi-Fi router like any other service.
There are two broad kinds:
- Local fixed wireless (WISPs) — regional companies with their own towers. Most need a clear line of sight from your roof to the tower, and a technician installs the antenna.
- 5G and 4G home internet — national mobile carriers selling home service over their cell networks. You plug in a gateway yourself, near a window with the best signal.
What to expect
With a strong signal, both kinds can deliver download speeds comparable to cable and latency low enough for video calls. The variables are distance to the tower, terrain, trees, and how many customers share that tower sector. Uploads are usually slower than downloads. Some plans prioritize mobile phone traffic over home internet when the network is busy; the plan’s broadband label discloses that.
Is it right for your home?
- Check the FCC map for “licensed fixed wireless”, “unlicensed fixed wireless” or 5G home providers at your address.
- Ask a local WISP for a free site survey — many will test line of sight before you commit.
- For 5G home internet, look for a trial or return window so you can test the signal indoors.
- Compare the broadband labels for price after promotions, equipment fees and data limits.
Fixed wireless vs the alternatives
Against geostationary satellite, fixed wireless usually wins on latency and cost. Against low-orbit satellite, it depends on signal strength. Against DSL far from the exchange, a good fixed wireless signal is often faster. Where fiber or cable reach, they are generally steadier. See the full comparison in fiber vs cable vs 5G and the rural picture in our rural internet guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is fixed wireless internet?
Home internet delivered by radio from a nearby tower to an antenna or gateway at your home, instead of through a cable or phone line.
Is fixed wireless better than satellite?
Usually, where it is available: latency is much lower than geostationary satellite and equipment costs are typically lower. Low-orbit satellite can match or beat a weak fixed wireless signal.
Does fixed wireless work in bad weather?
Heavy rain can reduce performance on some frequencies, and trees in leaf can weaken a marginal signal. A professionally aimed roof antenna is much less affected than an indoor unit.