Fixed wireless is a last-mile access technology that uses radio signals from a nearby tower to an antenna at a fixed site (office, store, plant). If you’re asking what is Fixed Wireless, it’s wired-grade connectivity without trenching fiber—ideal when speed to deploy, cost, or terrain make cables impractical.
We often see IT teams use fixed wireless as a primary link where fiber isn’t available, or as a diverse secondary circuit for SD-WAN resilience. Modern options include licensed microwave and 4G/5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), with performance shaped by spectrum, distance, and line-of-sight conditions.
Key advantages and considerations:
- Rapid turn-up: Days or weeks instead of long construction timelines.
- Path diversity: Keeps sites online during fiber cuts.
- Scalable speeds: From business broadband to carrier-grade microwave.
- Site factors: Line-of-sight, weather fade, and building mounts matter.
- Service model: SLAs and contention can vary—validate uptime and throughput.
Our take? Fixed wireless turns geography into an advantage—delivering reliable capacity fast, and adding real continuity when paired with terrestrial links.
Want the full breakdown? Explore our Fixed Wireless Guide for deployment patterns, SLAs, and SD-WAN design tips. And if you’re weighing fiber, fixed wireless, or satellite trade-offs, tune in to Broadband, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, or Satellite? Most Businesses Get This Wrong for a candid, real-world comparison.
