Fixed wireless internet providers
By Robin Layton Last updated: October 15, 2024
Fixed wireless internet has become a popular internet option in areas where cable and fiber are not available. Explore top fixed wireless providers like Verizon, T-Mobile and Starry.
Find fixed wireless internet near you
Verizon 5G
- Speeds – 85 – 1,000 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $35/mo.*
- Data caps – None
T-Mobile
- Speeds – Up to 245 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $40.00 – $60.00/mo.
- Data caps – None
AT&T
- Speeds – 40 – 140 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $60.00/mo.
- Data caps – None
Starry
- Speeds – 200 – 1,000 Mbps
- Prices starting at – $30.00/mo.
- Data caps – None
Allconnect’s favorite fixed wireless provider: Verizon
Our favorite fixed wireless provider is Verizon because it offers multiple plans with a cheap starting price. You can save on Verizon 5G Home internet (85 – 1,000 Mbps) if you pair with a phone plan. Compared to other providers, Verizon offers more speed for a great price.
*5G Home Internet: 5G Home plan at $35/mo. or 5G Home Plus plan at $45/mo. when combined with postpaid mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Auto Pay & paper-free billing req’d. Availability varies. Subject to credit approval. Price guarantee: 2 yrs for 5G Home, 3 yrs for 5G Home Plus, for new Verizon Home Internet (“VHI”) households who have not subscribed to a VHI service within the last 90 days. Applies only to the then-current base monthly rate exclusive of any other setup and additional equipment charges, discounts or promotions, plan perk and any other third-party services. As of 10/15/24.
Compare top fixed wireless internet options
Compare top fixed wireless providers by price and speed. T-Mobile and Verizon offer some of the best 5G home internet services, while Rise Broadband offers one of the cheapest plans.
Provider | Download speeds | Monthly data allowance | Starting price* |
---|---|---|---|
Verizon 5G Home Internet | 85 – 1,000 Mbps | Unlimited | $35.00/mo. |
T-Mobile Home Internet | Up to 245 Mbps | Unlimited | $40.00 – $60.00/mo. |
AT&T Internet Air | 40 – 140 Mbps | Unlimited | $60.00/mo. |
Starry Internet | 100 – 1,000 Mbps | Unlimited | $30.00/mo. |
Rise Broadband | 25 – 100 Mbps | 50 GB – Unlimited | $25.00/mo. |
*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 10/15/24.
**5G Home Internet: 5G Home plan at $35/mo. or 5G Home Plus plan at $45/mo. when combined with postpaid mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Auto Pay & paper-free billing req’d. Availability varies. Subject to credit approval. Price guarantee: 2 yrs for 5G Home, 3 yrs for 5G Home Plus, for new Verizon Home Internet (“VHI”) households who have not subscribed to a VHI service within the last 90 days. Applies only to the then-current base monthly rate exclusive of any other setup and additional equipment charges, discounts or promotions, plan perk and any other third-party services.
Depending on your address, you may have access to internet services from one or more of the fixed wireless providers mentioned above near you. There are dozens of other fixed wireless internet providers serving residents all over the U.S., but most are small regional providers that serve less than 1% of the population.
Your home must be close to a fixed wireless tower, ideally within 10 miles or less. For this reason, some addresses may not be eligible for fixed wireless internet service, even if there is a provider in their ZIP code.
For the most part, fixed wireless providers operate in rural areas since cable and fiber providers are already established in most cities. Plus, tall buildings and densely populated areas can obstruct fixed wireless signals.
Fixed wireless internet isn’t always the cheapest internet, but sometimes, it’s the only choice available other than satellite.
Some providers offer 5G home internet, a type of fixed wireless service. This signal comes from nearby 5G cell phone towers. When that’s not available, you can get LTE service, or a signal that comes from a 4G tower.
Advantages of fixed wireless internet
Some of fixed wireless internet’s biggest advantages include its affordable pricing, availability and ability to handle bandwidth-heavy internet activities such as online gaming.
Fixed wireless internet can be much more cost-effective than other internet tech types. Looking at T-Mobile and Verizon’s 5G plans, this is evident through its fixed pricing with no price hikes or hidden fees.
Fixed wireless internet is also more widely available in rural areas than cable or fiber internet. While satellite is still the best choice for rural internet due to its widespread availability, fixed wireless is another solid option since it does not require direct lines to your home.
Lastly, fixed wireless can support internet activities like online gaming. The short distance between fixed wireless towers and receivers reduces the latency that makes online gaming impossible with satellite internet. This also means Zoom calls and live streaming are much easier with fixed wireless than satellite.
Disadvantages of fixed wireless
Despite its advantages, there are some drawbacks to fixed wireless internet service. For starters, fixed wireless requires specific equipment and you must be near a cellular tower for an optimal connection. The weather could also cause an issue for fixed wireless internet connections, so keep these things in mind when considering the best internet tech for you.
Breakdown by wireless internet provider
Verizon 5G Home Internet
Verizon offers two fixed wireless 5G plans starting at $35/mo. Verizon 5G internet availability covers many cities across the U.S., and there are no annual contracts, hidden fees, price increases or data caps.
Verizon’s wireless internet network is another affordable fixed wireless option if its 5G plan isn’t for you. Though 5G is the latest generation, Verizon’s 4G LTE still produces reliable speeds and has the same benefits as its 5G Home Internet.
Best value plan: Verizon’s 5G Home Plus plan gives you up to 1,000 Mbps in download speed for $80/mo., but if you bundle it with your cell phone plan, it drops to $45/mo.
*5G Home Internet: 5G Home plan at $35/mo. or 5G Home Plus plan at $45/mo. when combined with postpaid mobile unlimited plan that includes 5G Ultra Wideband. Auto Pay & paper-free billing req’d. Availability varies. Subject to credit approval. Price guarantee: 2 yrs for 5G Home, 3 yrs for 5G Home Plus, for new Verizon Home Internet (“VHI”) households who have not subscribed to a VHI service within the last 90 days. Applies only to the then-current base monthly rate exclusive of any other setup and additional equipment charges, discounts or promotions, plan perk and any other third-party services. As of 10/15/24.
Verizon 5G Customer Reviews:
T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
T-Mobile offers wireless 5G Home Internet with no hidden fees, price increases or data caps. While its simplistic pricing makes it extremely appealing compared to other providers, it does have inconsistent speeds and your location could affect the quality of your connection. T-Mobile is available across the entire U.S.
Best value plan: T-Mobile offers one plan at $50/mo. for speeds up to 245 Mbps.
T-Mobile Customer Reviews:
AT&T fixed wireless internet
AT&T offers one stand-alone fixed wireless internet plan and a fixed wireless internet and DIRECTV bundle. AT&T’s fixed wireless internet has great availability compared to many other ISPs and even includes a gateway router to connect your devices.
Best value plan: AT&T has only one fixed wireless plan, with up to 140 Mbps in speed and unlimited data for $60.00/mo.
AT&T Customer Reviews:
Rise Broadband fixed wireless internet
Rise Broadband is the biggest ISP in the U.S. for fixed wireless internet. It’s affordable with plans starting at $25/mo. and widely available in many rural areas that have been previously underserved or unserved. Rise Broadband also offers five different plans, giving customers lots of options in terms of speeds and price.
Best value plan: Rise Broadband’s 100 Unlimited Data for $75/mo. is enough to connect a small smart household.
Rise Broadband Customer Reviews:
Starry fixed wireless 5G home internet
Starry Internet offers 5G fixed wireless internet with great download and upload speeds. There are also no hidden fees or contracts with Starry. Though it has limited availability, it is still a new service and will be expanding in the future.
Best value plan: Starry 500 with up to 500 Mbps for $55.00/mo.
Starry Customer Reviews:
Fixed wireless availability by provider
According to the FCC, fixed wireless internet service is available to about 80% of the U.S. population, with about 42% having access to broadband speeds (up to 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload or higher). Main service areas for fixed wireless internet providers include rural regions in the Northeast, Midwest and Western U.S., but some providers, such as Starry, may provide fixed wireless service exclusively in major metropolitan areas. Compared to other internet technology types like fiber, fixed wireless has more availability since fiber is still relatively new and expensive to build out. Compared to cable and satellite, however, fixed wireless has less availability.
- Verizon – Fios is mostly available in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. 5G home internet is available in 900 areas and cities
- T-Mobile – Available in 50 states, covering about 75% of the country
- AT&T – Available in California, Florida, Texas and 19 more states
- Rise Broadband – Available in California, Colorado, Idaho and 16 more states
- Starry Internet – Available in Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C. and other cities across 25 states
What is fixed wireless internet?
Fixed wireless internet is a type of internet service that uses broadcast towers to transmit and receive internet signals in the form of radio waves. A small dish or antenna receives the signals and sends them to a modem, which converts them into the internet service you use to browse the web, send emails and stream TV.
Similar to satellite internet, fixed wireless broadband eliminates the need for a phone or cable line for service, making it a popular choice for residents of rural areas. Fixed wireless towers can only send signals to roughly a 10-mile radius, however, meaning fixed wireless is available to fewer areas than satellite internet.
Fixed wireless vs. satellite internet
Fixed wireless and satellite internet are often the only choices for internet in rural areas, and both have their advantages. Overall, you can expect faster speeds and higher data caps with fixed wireless. The two main satellite internet providers, Hughesnet and Viasat, have very low data caps that make streaming or working from home difficult.
Satellite internet is also more sensitive to weather. Because its signal has to travel to satellite dishes in space, it can be slowed down by storms or cloud coverage.
Essentially, satellite internet is a last resort when you can’t get fiber, cable, DSL or fixed wireless internet. It’s more expensive than fixed wireless, offers slower speeds and has lower data caps. The one exception is Starlink, but it has an expensive setup charge and a higher-than-usual monthly fee.
Fixed wireless
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Availability
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Simple pricing
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Fast speeds
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Easy to install
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Limited signal range
Satellite
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Availability
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Prone to weather disruptions
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Low data caps
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Contracts
Future of fixed wireless internet
Fixed wireless coverage is already available to the majority of the U.S. population, but many providers hope to continue expanding their networks to bring the service to more areas.
In fact, according to Ericsson, fixed wireless connections worldwide are expected to reach 330 million by 2029. Fixed wireless providers Verizon and T-Mobile added a combined 940,000 subscribers in third-quarter 2023 alone, about 20,000 more than in 2022.
Fixed wireless expansion into metropolitan areas
Major cities, such as Boston, Denver, Los Angeles and New York City, that typically do not have access to fixed wireless service are starting to see options available thanks to providers such as Starry Internet, Verizon and T-Mobile. These fixed wireless networks often provide internet to entire buildings and may not be available for individual homes.
Starry $30/mo. service brings affordable fixed wireless to select cities
Starry Internet offers fixed wireless service in major cities, including Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Columbus, Denver and Los Angeles. Currently, Starry is offering internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps starting at $30/mo. in select areas.
In larger cities, fixed wireless providers often run service to an entire building, such as an apartment complex, rather than to individual homes. Consequently, service may not be available at your address, even if there is a fixed wireless provider in your area that serves local buildings.
T-Mobile and Verizon continue to expand 5G fixed wireless
T-Mobile and Verizon have expanded their fixed wireless coverage significantly in recent years. In many areas where 5G cell phone coverage is available, you can now access home internet using the same towers.
These 5G home internet speeds are a huge improvement on traditional fixed wireless. Verizon says customers can expect download speeds around 300 Mbps, while T-Mobile says their average is around 100 Mbps, with speeds available up to 245 Mbps.
Verizon reported in early 2023 that “5G Ultra Wideband now reaches 200 million people.” According to the FCC broadband service map, it covers about 20% of the U.S.
T-Mobile’s 5G internet service is expanding service frequently. LightReading reported that T-Mobile leaders are talking about improving their fixed wireless service as well. “For example, they have suggested the operator could deploy some of its millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum in order to support faster speeds and more customers. They have also said T-Mobile could install receivers on the outside of customers’ homes, thereby boosting signal reception and reach.”
In select cities, AT&T has introduced a fixed wireless home internet plan to compete with T-Mobile’s and Verizon’s home internet plans. AT&T Internet Air will cost users $60/mo., plus taxes. If you add an eligible AT&T wireless (mobile) plan, you can save 20% per month on AT&T Internet Air.
Final thoughts on fixed wireless internet
Fixed wireless internet is a solid solution for rural areas near a tower. The plans aren’t the fastest, but in some cases, they are faster than satellite. When you are moving to a new home, it’s best to check your address to see what internet service is available to you. Just because a neighbor has one provider does not mean they are also available at your address.
Fixed wireless FAQs
What wireless internet providers are available near me?
Internet provider availability varies by location, so only certain providers may be available near you. Type in your address to find out what providers offer service in your area.
What is fixed wireless internet?
Fixed wireless internet is a wireless internet service that connects a fixed location, like a house, to the internet via cell towers. The strength of your fixed wireless internet connection will largely depend on your proximity to one of these towers.
What is the best type of internet connection?
Fiber internet is the fastest type of internet service available, but cable offers more than enough speed for day-to-day internet activities. Satellite and DSL internet are on the slower side, with satellite being known for its widespread availability — especially in rural areas.
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Written by:
Robin LaytonEditor, Broadband Content
Robin Layton is an editor for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. She built her internet industry expertise writing and editing for four years on the site, as well as on Allconnect’s sister site MYMOVE.com. … Read more
Edited by:
Anine SusEditor I
Fixed wireless state check
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
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