FWA

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a method of connecting a subscriber to an electronic communications network (e.g. for broadband Internet access or telephone services) using a wireless alternative to traditional copper cables. To offer wireless services, a service provider will usually install an antenna on the outside of the customer's premises which is connected to a special modem that the user connects to their computer or telephone. The connection between the modem and the computer can be wired or wireless. Wireless solutions between the modem and the customer's computer are generally based on Wi-Fi.

The antenna at the customer's premises is used to connect the customer to a base station. In this case also called a network access point. The network acces point is located at a central point and typically serves more than one user by fixed radio links.

Depending on the technology, FWA can deliver a complete range of services, including telephony, high speed data (e.g. broadband internet access), video and other multimedia services. Data rates typically range from several hundred kbit/s to several Mbit/s, depending on the requirements of the user and the type of technology used.

In FWA the location of the end-user termination point is fixed. The are also technologies were the customer's modem is connected to a small antenna which can be placed anywhere within the premises of the customer (NWA) or were the customer can be mobile (MWA).

Originally, FWA was meant to connect users to the public switched telephone network. Nowadays, FWA is mainly used to connect small and medium enterprises as well as consumers to the internet.