What Is Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)?

Fixed Wireless Access, better known as FWA, is becoming a common term in the world of the Internet these days. Developed and developing countries around the globe are adopting this wireless way of providing high-speed Internet access. Like other ways to access the Internet, FWA also has its share of pros and cons. In this guide, I will explain what Fixed Wireless Access is, how it works, the pros and cons, and its use cases.

What is Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)?

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a broadband internet service that uses 5G or 4G LTE wireless networks to get internet access to fixed locations. In simple terms, it is a broadband connection but does not use any cables. Instead, FWA uses specialized equipment to communicate with a base station. In many cases, a cell tower in your area would act as a base station.

Though it may sound similar to a mobile internet connection, FWA is different from a 4G internet connection on your smartphone. Most significantly, an FWA is fixed to a location, such as your home or office. It almost always maintains a line of sight between the FWA antenna and the base station tower to ensure the best speeds and latency possible.

Even though the FWA may use the same 5G or 4G network that your mobile phone uses, the speeds you get from an FWA are pretty different. In many cases, you can expect fiber-like speeds going up to the range of 1 Gbps. This is not something that you can consistently get on your mobile device because of varying coverage. Because FWA uses a fixed antenna, you can get a consistent and reliable internet connection.

How Fixed Wireless Access Technology Works

Three major components work together to enable internet access via Fixed Wireless Access. They are:

Base Station

A base station is the component that connects the entire system of fixed wireless access to the internet. The base station, which is usually a cell tower, is connected to the internet’s backbone, and it could be working on 3G, 4G LTE, or 5G. This component will send and receive signals that will be used by multiple FWA systems in the vicinity.

Receiver/Antenna

Though an FWA system may be using the same 4G or 5G network that your smartphone is using, a built-in antenna that you can find on a smartphone is not good enough to provide broadband internet access to multiple devices. As a result, FWA systems use a dedicated receiver or antenna, which is usually kept at the top of the building to ensure a line of sight with the base station.

Router

The last component in the system is an internet router, which enables wired or wireless internet access across your building. Most devices are equipped to handle multiple systems, including the management of signal, so that you can enjoy a typical Wi-Fi network and connect most devices. You will also find a power delivery module that powers the router and the receiver.

So, here’s what happens when you want to access the Internet.

• You open a web browser on your computer/smartphone and enter a URL
• Your internet router will convert the signal and send it to the receiver
• The receiver communicates with the base station, which sends the request to the Internet
• The base station relays the response from the Internet server back to the receiver
• The receiver sends the information back to your internet router, and the device

As you can guess, these processes take only a fraction of a second. Because modern FWA systems rely on an ultra-fast 5G network, they are able to provide impressive speeds and latency. As I said, you can easily find FWA systems that offer speeds as high as 1 Gbps.

Depending on the frequency band in use, FWA systems can have an average range of 5km to 15km. However, carriers may optimize these systems for dense areas as well. More so, mmWave frequency bands can offer incredible speeds within a 100m to 500m range.

Pros and Cons of Fixed Wireless Access

Now that you know how a Fixed Wireless Access system works, shall we see its pros and cons?

Pros of Fixed Wireless Access

These are some reasons Fixed Wireless Access Internet connections continue to become popular across the globe.

• Easy Deployment: Fixed Wireless Access does not rely on cables, so you can get it deployed quickly. As long as your home/office is within the range of the base station, you can set up a receiver at your place and access the FWA-based connection.
• Affordable: In most places, FWA-based connections are as affordable as fiber or coax-based internet connections. In some situations, FWA is more affordable than conventional internet connections, as you don’t have to pay for wired infrastructure.
• Impressive Speeds: These days, more FWA connections rely on 5G cellular networks, which offer high speed and impressive latency. Considering the low price you have, speeds like 300Mbps from FWA connections are great for most people and suitable for purposes like gaming and streaming.
• Stability: While FWA connections are not as stable as fiber or coaxial connections, they are far better than satellite and DSL connections. You can also enjoy better latency compared to satellite internet, which can be more expensive as well.

Cons of Fixed Wireless Access

Despite its advantages, Fixed Wireless Access has some limitations.

• Obstructions: As I said earlier, a line of sight is required for the proper functioning of an FWA internet connection. Obstructions on the way may prevent the connection from offering the best speed and latency.
• Lack of Portability: This is true for many other forms of internet, but FWA connections aren’t portable for the most part. However, they are easy to migrate with as long as you are moving to an area with coverage.
• Latency Issues: Though the average latency you find with FWA is better than DSL and satellite-based connections, it is not comparable to that of fiber connections. So, if you are into games where split-second decisions matter, it won’t be a good experience.

Here’s something you should understand about the cons of Fixed Wireless Access.

Most of these issues don’t matter when you live in a remote area or someplace where you cannot get wired internet infrastructure. In these cases, getting the speed you get from FWA is better than other options like mobile internet or satellite internet. It is also why the FWA market is growing like never before.

Fixed Wireless Access Use Cases

Here are some common use cases of Fixed Wireless Access.

Residential Broadband Alternative

Within residential spaces, Fixed Wireless Access is a viable alternative to fiber and cable-based broadband. Given that FWA can speed as high as 1 Gbps, these connections are well-suited for home needs like content streaming and browsing.

Remote Connectivity

FWA is often hailed as the holy grail for bridging the digital divide. It is a viable claim because you can easily deploy FWA in remote areas as long as there is line-of-sight connectivity with a base station. The costs for an FWA connection are only a fraction of what wired infrastructure development would incur.

Backup/Redundancy

Many spaces, including residential and commercial, are now using FWA as a backup/redundant connection for high-speed needs. Though there are latency limitations, FWA internet connections can keep things online when wired connections go south.

Temporary Internet Access

Fixed Wireless Access is also great for temporary and hybrid internet access needs. For instance, a film studio may use an FWA to ensure stable internet access during multiple events. Similarly, some RVs also make use of FWAs when roaming within coverage areas.

In addition, many other instances can benefit from the convenience of Fixed Wireless Access. For example, easy deployment options make FWA a great choice during emergency scenarios like natural disasters. Even when conventional infrastructure is down, you can stay online without any hassle.

Internet service providers are leveraging the scalability of FWA as well. For example, an ISP can set up just a few or thousands of large/small base stations across a region. These setups will allow them to fulfill varying speed and bandwidth requirements.

Wrapping Up

There is no doubt that FWA will continue its growth in various sectors, mainly as 5G wireless technology has found its ground. Fortunately, more research and development will help the industry come up with cheaper yet quality-rich options so that FWA can really bridge the digital divide.