In the battle for internet dominance, many contenders have risen to the challenge of bringing high-speed internet to our homes.
Some methods of internet access, like dial-up, are long gone. Similarly, DSL and satellite are internets of last resort, lacking the speed and latency needed for streaming, gaming and high usage from multiple devices. Cable internet is still around, despite numerous deficiencies in reliability and capacity.
That brings us to fiber internet, the gold standard with speeds up to 8 Gbps, 99.99 percent reliability, and the one-two knockout punch of high bandwidth with low latency. But fiber infrastructure isn’t available everywhere. In those cases, fixed wireless internet is the best choice.
Let’s find out why.
Fixed wireless rises above the rest
Fixed wireless internet operates on a mobile data connection to a nearby cellular tower, and two things must be present for it to work. First, you have to live close to a tower equipped for sending the signal, and second, your home has to be within the line of sight of the tower, with no buildings to obstruct the connection. That’s why fixed wireless is more commonly used in rural areas where fiber isn’t readily available.
It's often the fastest connection for miles (and miles)
Fiber internet offers unprecedented speeds to home internet consumers, but fixed wireless is typically the fastest option in areas where fiber doesn’t reach. C Spire 5G Home Internet, our own fixed wireless solution, buzzes along at 100 Mbps. While fiber can be much faster, you can still do a lot of streaming on that kind of connection.
It’s a smooth ride
A commonly overlooked factor in your home’s internet experience, latency measures the time it takes for information to travel from one computer to another. Lower latency means faster response times, which is important for activities such as online gaming, video conferencing, and real-time streaming. Latency on fixed wireless typically runs higher than on fiber, but a 5G connection can make up a lot of ground.
