The Ins And Outs Of Wireless Broadband

Wireless broadband is high-speed internet and data service delivered through a wireless local or wide area network. As with other wireless services, wireless broadband may be fixed or mobile. Wireless broadband is not the same as Wi-Fi, which is a way to connect computers and devices on a LAN, and may be linked to other devices. Wireless broadband implies that internet service is delivered wirelessly to a single device, which may connect to other devices.

Wireless broadband is typically divided into either fixed or mobile categories, determined by if the connecting device is fixed in a single location or can be easily moved. A mobile connection would be in a cellphone, laptop, or a dedicated mobile hotspot, and fixed wireless service would be a device designed to provide internet to an entire home or office.

What types of wireless broadband are there?

Cellular wireless broadband is high-speed internet delivered by a cellular telephone network. The signals are sent and received by a cellular base station that wirelessly transmits to the consumer’s modem, either embedded in a device, such as a cellphone, or a separate device connected to other devices, such as a home computer or network. Cellular wireless is the most popular form of mobile broadband.

WiMAX is a dedicated wireless broadband technology similar to Wi-Fi but uses different equipment. Devices that connect to a WiMAX signal are known as subscriber stations. WiMAX covers an area greater than Wi-Fi but less than a cellular data connection. Conversely, possible data speeds are higher than traditional 3G cellular data but slower than Wi-Fi. It has seen adoption in Europe, Australia, and other areas as a popular way to provide last-mile internet access to homes. Still, it has not experienced widespread adoption in the United States.

DSL is a wireline transmission technology that transmits data faster than traditional copper telephone lines installed in homes and businesses. DSL-based broadband provides transmission speeds ranging from several hundred Kbps to millions of bits per second (Mbps). The availability and speed of your DSL service may depend on the distance from your home or business to the closest telephone company facility.

What is the difference between WiFi and wireless broadband? Are they the same?

WiFi is a wireless connection in your house or business that connects your phone or computer to your modem/router. At the same time, Broadband is the internet connection that your modem/router uses to send and receive data from your house to the wider world.

On the other hand, Wireless Broadband is essentially an internet connection. Using a specific type of 4G router in your home will connect to nearby 4G cell towers (just as your mobile phone would when you are out and about). This 4G signal sends and receives data via the nearby cell towers.

There are many reasons a company can reap the benefits of wireless broadband. A wireless internet connection gives employees mobility on the go while using voice services or accessing information via cell phones. Wireless networks reduce or eliminate wiring costs, making installation cost-effective and fast. Reach out to one of our experts to dive deeper into the ins and out of wireless broadband.

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