Fixed wireless internet providers

Consider a fixed wireless internet plan if you live in a rural area.

On this page:

What is fixed wireless?
Fixed wireless internet providers
Who is fixed wireless internet good for?
Fixed wireless vs. satellite internet
Fixed wireless internet availability

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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.

According to the FCC, fixed wireless internet service is available to about 46% of the U.S. population, with 29% having access to broadband speeds (up to 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload or higher). Main service areas for fixed wireless internet providers include rural regions in the Northeast, Midwest and western U.S.

Fixed wireless internet providers

There are dozens of 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.

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.

That said, some providers, such as Starry Internet, offer fixed wireless service in major cities such as Boston, Denver and Los Angeles. 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.

Fixed wireless provider service areas

AT&T – Available in California, Florida, Texas and 19 more states
Etheric Networks – Available in California
GHz Wireless – Available in Texas
King Street Wireless – Available in California, Illinois, Indiana and 21 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.
Verizon LTE – Available in California, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Texas

Compare fixed wireless providers

Compare the most widely-available fixed wireless internet providers by price, speed and monthly data allowance. Depending on your address, there may be availability of one or more of these fixed wireless providers near you.

Provider	Starting price*	Speed range	Monthly data allowance
AT&T Fixed Wireless	$49.99/mo.	10 – 25 Mbps	160 – 250 GB
Etheric Networks	$99.00/mo.	3 – 100 Mbps	300 GB – 4 TB
GHz Wireless	$39.95/mo.	5 – 50 Mbps	Unlimited
King Street Wireless	$50.00/mo.	1 – 12 Mbps	2 GB – Unlimited
Rise Broadband	$29.95/mo.	5 – 50 Mbps	150 – 500 GB
Starry Internet	$50.00/mo.	200 – 200 Mbps	None
Verizon LTE (installed)	$60.00/mo.	5 – 12 Mbps	10 – 40 GB

*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 10/16/20.

Available fixed wireless internet providers and plans vary by location. Additionally, your home needs to 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.

Who is fixed wireless internet good for?

Fixed wireless is a good solution for home internet service, but it may not be perfect for everybody. Compare the pros and cons of fixed wireless service to see if it is right for you.

Advantages of fixed wireless internet

Simple set-up – It’s easier to set up than broadband simply because there are no cables involved.
No cables – Because there are no cables, there’s no chance of wires getting cut and disrupting connectivity.
Online gaming is possible – The short distance between fixed wireless towers and receivers reduces the latency that makes online gaming impossible with satellite.
Secure connection – Security has been dramatically improved over time to address encryption, data privacy and authentication.

Disadvantages of fixed wireless internet

Equipment and line of sight – Similar to satellite internet, fixed wireless internet requires installing a small dish, which needs a direct line of sight to a fixed wireless tower to receive service.
Service and equipment cost – Monthly and initial startup costs for fixed wireless internet may be higher than other internet types.
Data limits – We mentioned high data caps as a benefit because a good amount helps. We’d much rather browse with no limits, especially with multiple users and devices in a household.
Weather disruptions – Rain, snow, fog and other instances of inclement weather can disrupt your connection.

Fixed wireless vs. satellite internet: which is better?

Fixed wireless internet can offer faster speeds and lower latency, but satellite internet has far better availability. Here’s how fixed wireless and satellite internet compare.

Internet type	Availability	Pricing	Speeds	Data caps	Latency	Signal reliability
Fixed wireless		✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Satellite	✔

Similarities between fixed wireless and satellite internet

Satellite internet has a clear advantage in availability, but fixed wireless – depending on the providers available in your area – may come with slightly lower prices and faster speeds. Neither, however, can compare to the pricing and speed options of most cable, fiber or even DSL providers.

Fixed wireless plans also typically come with higher data allowances and significantly lower latency than satellite. And since fixed wireless is much more localized, it is less susceptible to bad weather in surrounding areas.

Fixed wireless internet availability is likely to keep expanding

Fixed wireless internet is already available to nearly half the U.S. population, but many providers hope to continue expanding their networks to bring the service to more areas.

AT&T’s fixed wireless availability covers parts of 18 states and the company hopes to “make internet access available in over 1.1 million locations by the end of 2020.”

Verizon’s fixed wireless internet — LTE Internet (installed) — is already available in most locations where Verizon 4G LTE service is offered. As Verizon rolls out their 5G network, new fixed wireless plans with faster speeds may become available in select areas.

With eyes on competitors like Spectrum and Xfinity, both AT&T and Verizon plan to make fixed wireless access a top priority for small businesses. Other fixed wireless providers, such as Rise Broadband, also hope to continue expansion and make fixed wireless available in more areas. Rise Broadband announced plans to preserve their networks, currently in 16 states, with plans to expand to more markets in the coming years.

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Written by:

Lisa Iscrupe

Staff Writer

Lisa uses years of experience in sales and customer service for internet-TV providers to inform her writing on broadband. Her work has been referenced by CNN and other national sources. In Lisa’s Words: Ever… Read more