When wired network connections were the norm, delays getting internet access were to be expected. But in today’s competitive business environment, waiting weeks or even months for traditional wired connections to be provided is no longer viable.

Fortunately, today’s wireless technologies enable businesses to transform connectivity from being a restrictive barrier to a flexible, on-demand utility. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions allow enterprises to instantly connect to high-speed, broadband internet by accessing 4G LTE and 5G cellular networks, thereby bypassing the need for physical cables. With instant internet access, businesses can quickly capitalize on new opportunities, expand into new markets, and set up temporary operations quickly and cost-effectively.

FWA delivers instant business internet

Day-one connectivity isn’t just a convenience, it is a strategic necessity. FWA makes instant, day-one connectivity a reality by bypassing traditional wired infrastructure. It uses existing cellular networks to deliver high-speed broadband directly to a fixed location, potentially reducing deployment time from weeks or months to a nearly instantaneous process.

FWA also offers advantages in performance and flexibility. It can deliver download speeds and upload speeds comparable to fiber, often surpassing cable or DSL, especially with 5G. For businesses outside of a fiber footprint or in rural areas, FWA can effectively bridge the digital divide. The streamlined infrastructure needed to create a network connection not only makes it faster to install than traditional wireless but often makes it more cost-effective as well.

All these benefits make FWA ideal for a wide variety of use cases, including:

  • Primary internet connectivity: FWA offers a cost-effective, quick-to-install internet option for startups or businesses where fiber internet access is not available, enabling immediate operational capability. Employees can be online instantly to access essential tools like email, cloud platforms and applications, and Voice-over-IP (VoIP). This is crucial for new office setups, temporary sites, or managing unexpected outages.
  • Secondary internet connection and failover: FWA connections serve as an ideal backup for corporations with fiber, ensuring continuous operations during service outages and minimizing downtime. A cellular failover mechanism helps minimize potential financial losses and reputational damage from downtime.
  • Temporary internet access: FWA provides secure and reliable internet for short durations, which is perfect for pop-up retail stores, special events, or independent film studios.
  • Rural business internet: FWA delivers fast and reliable connectivity to businesses in multiple rural locations where traditional wired internet is often unreliable or unavailable.
  • Connecting remote workforces: FWA can be used to extend corporate networks to remote employees, enabling secure and efficient work from anywhere.
  • Branch office connectivity: FWA provides high-speed internet to branch offices, ensuring reliable communication and operations across distributed locations. The ability to establish business networks instantly and connect to the outside world allows organizations to quickly explore new markets, establish seasonal operations, or adapt to unforeseen circumstances without major infrastructure commitments.
Unlock lightning-fast 5G internet almost anywhere

How to deploy FWA for a reliable and instant connection in four steps

The basic process of deploying and managing an FWA network is fairly straightforward. But to get the full value of FWA, businesses need routers and other wireless devices engineered to provide instant, reliable, and secure high-speed internet. Here’s a basic breakdown of the process, and the capabilities needed to optimize each step.

Step 1: Choose the right solution

Businesses need to choose the right device to take advantage of FWA’s fast deployment capabilities. Plug-and-play devices that require no wiring, drilling, or permanent fixtures make installations fast and easy for new ventures and temporary locations. Ideally, devices should provide fast, secure broadband with nothing more than an activated SIM card from any major internet service provider.

How Inseego helps: Inseego offers a range of plug-and-play devices, including portable Wi-Fi hotspots and powerful 5G FWA routers, that are designed for easy and rapid deployment. These devices work with an activated SIM card from any major carrier, allowing businesses to get up and running quickly.

Step 2: Optimize the signal

Post-deployment, signal optimization will make a huge difference in network performance. Hardware should have high-gain directional and/or omnidirectional antennas to maintain 5G connections under any circumstances. Enterprises should look for a solution that simplifies the process of optimizing deployment location for signal reception and connectivity performance. An easy-to-use mobile app that can track signal reception in real time is a cost-effective and straightforward solution.

How Inseego helps: Inseego’s devices are engineered with advanced directional and omnidirectional antennas to deliver excellent performance, even in challenging environments. The Inseego Mobile app simplifies the optimization process by allowing non-technical staff to track signal reception in real time, ensuring devices are placed in the best location for optimal connectivity.

Step 3: Manage networks remotely

Every device deployed to support an FWA network must be configured with the right settings and policies, which can be a slow and tedious process. If devices must be configured and updated by IT staff on-site, the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of the FWA solution is drastically reduced. Enterprises should leverage cloud-based device management solutions that support zero-touch provisioning and remote management. Devices can be pre-configured before even leaving the warehouse, making even large-scale rollouts vastly more efficient. Remote management, including Firmware-Over-The-Air updates ensure devices can be configured, usage tracked, and updates installed from virtually anywhere, keeping devices functional and secure often without any manual interventions.

How Inseego helps: The Inseego Connect platform provides a cloud-based solution for remote network management. It enables zero-touch provisioning, allowing devices to be pre-configured before leaving the warehouse. IT teams can remotely monitor performance, analyze usage patterns, and push Firmware-Over-The-Air (FOTA) updates to keep every device secure and up to date from a single dashboard.

Step 4: Ensure uninterrupted power and flexibility

For connectivity to serve enterprises, rather than the other way around, they must be able to count on continuous device performance and flexible deployment options. Enterprise-grade hotspots with high-capacity, long-lasting batteries can ensure continuous productivity and reliable backups during power outages. Enterprises should also look for devices that support multiple types of connections, including direct wired connections, and are certified across all major carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Bell Canada. This way, they have the flexibility to choose the best option for coverage, performance, and pricing for their deployment environment.

  • How Inseego helps: Inseego's enterprise-grade hotspots, such as the MiFi X PRO, are equipped with high-capacity batteries to provide continuous connectivity and serve as a reliable backup during power outages. Their devices are certified across all major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon), giving businesses the flexibility to choose the best carrier for their specific needs. Many Inseego solutions also support multiple types of connections, including direct wired options, to ensure maximum flexibility.

Simplify large-scale deployments with Inseego

Inseego has demonstrated experience delivering reliable connectivity at massive scales. Harris County Public Libraries, for example, successfully deployed 40,000 MiFi X PRO wireless enterprise-grade hotspot devices across 26 branches, providing essential internet access to communities that needed it most. This project not only highlighted the ease of deploying thousands of devices simultaneously but also showcased the effectiveness of our MiFi hotspots in bridging the digital divide.

In the retail sector, agricultural retailer Tractor Supply implemented our FWA solutions across more than 2,000 stores to ensure reliable connectivity for point-of-sale systems, inventory management, and other critical business operations.

Our solutions are built for rapid, large-scale rollouts without compromising performance or security. Inseego’s commitment to secure, reliable, and easy-to-deploy wireless solutions positions us as an essential partner for businesses striving for flexibility, resilience, and immediate day-one internet access.

Talk to our experts to learn more about which Inseego FWA or hotspot solution is right for your business.