Fixed wireless broadband – what is it?

One of the new opportunities introduced by 5G technology is a fast and disruption-free fixed internet connection via a mobile network. This is a solution aimed primarily at detached and semi-detached houses that allows you to always reserve part of a 5G network for a certain user. This means that other use of the mobile network will not affect the speed of your own internet connection.

For a broadband connection, a 5G receiver is installed on the exterior wall of the house and pointed towards the operator’s base station. The base station is connected to a fixed optical fibre network. The signal passes from the exterior receiver via a wired connection to the interior of the house, where it is distributed throughout the house and to devices by means of interior routers. It is easy to set up fixed wireless broadband, and no excavation work is needed for installation.

Fixed, wireless or fixed wireless?

Get an internet connection that suits your situation and needs. An optical fibre connection is superfast, disruption-free, and is an excellent choice for online gaming, for example, due to its low latency. However, the installation of an optical fibre network can take quite a long time, or require unreasonable investment in challenging locations.

Visit a mobile operator’s service point to obtain a mobile contract. These contracts do not require any initial investments and can be used immediately. You can also use them anywhere, even abroad. At peak times, high volumes of users can however cause mobile network congestion and slow down data transfer speeds.

Fixed wireless broadband may be the solution if you live in a detached or semi-detached house in an area with 5G coverage. It provides an internet connection that is almost as fast as an optical fibre connection. Installation requires a visit from an engineer, who will mount the receiver on an exterior wall or the roof, run cables to the interior of the house, and install a socket-outlet. All this can be carried out during a single visit.

There are almost 10.4 million broadband connections in Finland. Of these, 8.570 are mobile connections and 1.797 are fixed broadband connections. Fixed mobile broadband is such a new service that its share has not yet been calculated in statistics.

5G increases speed and services

The latest-generation mobile technology increases data transfer speeds by up to ten times more than previous generations. It also increases capacity, which is increasingly needed to ensure the function of our digital society. The rise in telecommuting and distance learning and consumption of entertainment at home during the state of emergency has increased the amount of data transferred through telecommunications networks several times over.

For companies, 5G offers a lag-free network that can help to make functions smart and automated. It also provides unlimited opportunities for the development of new services. The coronavirus pandemic has shown us that we increasingly need to be able to face the future without physical contact. 5G and the smart solutions it enables make this possible.