I want to provide you with a comprehensive guide comparing fixed wireless and satellite internet. Making the best decision between these two technologies can be challenging if rural broadband access is limited where you live.
By outlining how both options work, their capabilities, ideal use cases and downsides, my goal is to offer insider expertise so you can determine the optimal solution for your connectivity needs. I‘ll share plenty of data-driven insights as we dive into the details together.
A Brief History
Let‘s start with some background on how we arrived at two distinct ways of delivering broadband to unserved regions lacking cable or fiber availability…
Fixed wireless networks first began rolling out in the late 1990‘s as an alternative "last-mile" access technology leveraging cellular infrastructure being built out. By converting mobile signals to Wi-Fi, homes and businesses could connect without needing direct cable or DSL wired lines.
Satellite internet service also proliferated in the 90‘s after Hughes introduced DirecWay, one of the first commercial offerings. Early satellite was plagued by painfully slow speeds and high latency given the long distances involved.
| Year | Fixed Wireless | Satellite Internet |
| ------------- |:-------------------------------------:|:----------------------------------------------:|
| 1991 | Cellular networks start deploying 2G | Hughes launches prototype satellite service |
| Mid 90‘s | Ricochet launches first FW networks | DirecWay introduces commercial satellite internet |
| Early 2000‘s | FW sees limited success | WildBlue, Starband gain early customers |
| 2007 | 4G LTE technology enables faster FW | ViaSat-1 satellite promises faster speeds |
| 2015 | 5G research and trials commence | Hughes, ViaSat make acquisitions |
| 2019 | 5G commercial rollouts begin | SpaceX launches Starlink LEO satellite system |
| 2025 (est) | 5G dominates future FW growth | LEO satellites promise huge capacity gains |As shown in the timeline above, both access technologies have evolved dramatically over the past 30 years. For example, 5G and LEO satellites are game-changers in delivering much greater competitive speed and user experience.
Next let‘s move on to side-by-side capability comparisons between fixed wireless and satellite internet.
Speed and Latency Showdown
Now for the juicy stuff! Let‘s dig into how fixed wireless and satellite internet compare when it comes to critical factors like download speeds and latency.
I‘ll share real-world stats so you can set performance expectations for either connectivity option.
| | Fixed Wireless | Satellite Internet |
| ------------------------ |:------------------------:| :-------------------------:|
| **Typical Download Speed**| 25 - 100+ Mbps | 10 - 35 Mbps |
| **Average Latency** | 25 - 30 ms | 400+ ms | That‘s a quick snapshot focused on speed and lag. However, pinning down precise performance measures is tricky because many variables impact both fixed wireless and satellite…
For **fixed wireless**, distance to the closest cell tower, surrounding terrain, network congestion and even weather can affect speeds. Carrier network technology also plays a role, with 5G enabling 100 Mbps or higher potentially.
**Satellite throughput** depends on dish size, satellite orbit altitude, beam density and weather patterns disrupting signals. Innovations like [SpaceX Starlink](https://www.starlink.com/) launching low earth orbit satellites have been a game-changer however. To demonstrate the range for each access method, here‘s a sampling of speed test data from June 2022 across major providers:
| | Download<br>Speed (Mbps) | Upload<br>Speed (Mbps) | Latency (ms) |
| ------------------------ |:------------------------:| :---------------------:| :-----------:|
| Verizon 5G Fixed Wireless* | 216 | 33 | 28 |
| T-Mobile 5G Fixed Wireless* | 85 | 21 | 31 |
| AT&T Fixed Wireless** | 29 | 4 | 93 |
| HughesNet Satellite*** | 19 | 3 | 629 |
| Viasat Satellite*** | 12 | 2 | 765 |
| Starlink Satellite*** | 103 | 13 | 44 |
_*Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data for top providers_<br>
_** FCC Fixed Broadband Deployment Report_<br>
_*** FCC Measuring Broadband America report_The results show fixed wireless edging out satellite overall for faster speeds and especially lower latency. Satellite is nearly always going to involve higher lag given the vast distances signals have to travel.
But satellite technology continues advancing too. Starlink for example beats fixed wireless latency thanks to its low earth orbit. However Starlink‘s $110 monthly cost is over double the price of fixed access.
Let‘s move onto comparing availability and coverage reach between the options.
Fixed Wireless and Satellite Coverage Areas
You might assume satellite internet grants universal connectivity from the sky. But in reality high-speed satellite capacity can be very limited regionally. Fixed availability depends entirely on proximity to ground-based cell towers.
Check out the maps below giving you an idea of current coverage nationally for leading providers.
*[Starlink availability map](https://www.starlink.com/map) (SpaceX)*
*[Verizon 5G Fixed Wireless coverage](https://www.verizon.com/5g/home/) map* You can see satellite coverage spans the entire lower 48 states potentially but actual high performance availability is limited (shown in red).
Fixed wireless coverage on the other hand depends on proximity to 5G towers in areas marked. But blankets entire neighborhoods and regions as deployed.
Let‘s move onto…
Equipment and Installation
Here‘s a quick comparison on what‘s involved getting both services set up at your home:
| | Fixed Wireless | Satellite Internet |
| ------------------------ | :------------------------------: | :-----------------------: |
| Equipment | Outdoor radio antenna + modem/router | Satellite dish + modem |
| Install Process | Self or pro install on roof | Professional install recommended |
| Install Time | 1 - 2 hours | 3 - 5 hours |
| Equipment Cost | $0 - $99 | $249 - $500 |As you can see, getting fixed wireless operational takes just a few hours with an antenna placement and running a modem/router inside. Monthly service pricing includes equipment rental in most cases.
Satellite requires drilling for running cabling, accurately siting the dish, and fine tuning alignment during installation. Customers can choose to buy their equipment or roll fees into a 2 year contract.
Okay, final major point of comparison – how environment affects connection reliability…
Comparing Environmental Factors
Weather and physical obstructions play a major role in how fixed wireless and satellite internet perform:
Fixed wireless depends primarily on maintaining antenna line-of-sight with nearby cell towers. So mostly heavy rain, snow or dense foliage impacts signal propagation. Network congestion during peak usage can also slow speeds.
Satellite internet gets disrupted any time clouds, storms or even solar activity interrupts dish views to the southern sky. Trees, buildings and terrain blockages also require precisely mounting the dish for ideal signal.
In my experience, satellite tends to suffer more frequent short disruptions. But fixed wireless slows dramatically due to too many customers sharing limited tower capacity. Choosing your provider and plan caps carefully avoids the worst issues.
Use Case Examples
Let‘s make this buying decision more concrete by walking through real-world examples where fixed wireless or satellite each fit best:
James was struggling with sluggish DSL internet living in a rural Kansas farmhouse. Unfortunately no cables or fiber served his area. He signed up for a Verizon 5G fixed wireless plan and antenna install taking advantage of a newly built cell tower just over 4 miles away. For $50/month James now enjoys 100 Mbps downloads transforming how he uses the internet! Do you see your situation reflected here? Check for carriers actively building towers near you.
Now let‘s look at a instance where satellite internet was the way to go:
Alyssa‘s Colorado mountain cabin had no broadband availability besides dial-up internet. While satellite signals were decent, she needed speeds to work remotely and host virtual family gatherings. She purchased a Starlink satellite plan with 150 Mbps speeds and low enough latency for smooth video calls. Even with trees all around, the dish was situated with clear sky access. If you have absolutely no line of sight to cell towers or other options, investing in a satellite connection makes total sense.
Recommendations
Hopefully this gives you a solid framework for choosing between fixed wireless and satellite internet access.
Here are my key tips as you evaluate options for your home:
- Check carrier maps for active tower upgrades benefiting fixed wireless
- Carefully site dishes or antennas for clear line-of-sight
- Compare broadband reports testing real-world speeds in your area
- Calculate total long term costs – equipment fees, install, data caps etc
- Determine if latency or weather disruption will frustrate you
And most importantly – don‘t settle for subpar rural internet just because fiber or cable isn‘t available!
Let me know if you have any other questions around making fixed wireless or satellite a reality at your location. I‘m always happy to help apply my technology background to help friends like you get connected.
