More from the 5G glossary
View all 5G glossary entriesWhat is Fixed Wireless Access?
Fixed wireless access (FWA) is a type of broadband Internet access that uses radio waves to provide high-speed Internet services to users in fixed locations. FWA technology uses radio waves to communicate between a fixed base station and a user's premises, typically a home or office. FWA is a popular choice for broadband Internet access in rural and underserved areas, where other types of Internet access may be unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
FWA broadband Internet services are typically delivered via a fixed base station, which is a type of antenna that is mounted on a structure such as a building or a tower. The base station transmits radio signals to a user's premises, where an antenna receives the signals and converts them into Internet data. The user's premises equipment then connects to the Internet via the antenna.
FWA services can be delivered over a variety of frequencies, depending on the particular technology used. The most common frequency bands for FWA are the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. These frequencies are commonly used for Wi-Fi applications, and many FWA base stations are compatible with Wi-Fi equipment.