Two kinds of fixed wireless
Regional WISPs (unlicensed spectrum) — hundreds of local operators like Rise Broadband, Nextlink, and Wisper mount an antenna on your roof with line-of-sight to a tower. Carrier 5G home (licensed spectrum) — T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T ship a self-install gateway. Both share the technology’s traits: fast deployment, weather/terrain sensitivity, and speeds that depend on distance and congestion.
Fixed wireless providers
Rise Broadband
- Plans from $30/mo (checked May 2026)
- 2,054 ZIP codes · 17 states (FCC)
- Up to 1 Gbps · Fixed Wireless & Fiber
T-Mobile Home Internet
- Plans from $35/mo (checked July 2026)
- 29,681 ZIP codes · 50 states (FCC)
- Up to 100 Mbps · 5G Home Internet
Verizon
- Plans from $35/mo (checked July 2026)
- 22,564 ZIP codes · 50 states (FCC)
- Up to 2 Gbps · Fiber & 5G Home
AT&T
- Plans from $55/mo (checked July 2026)
- 24,531 ZIP codes · 49 states (FCC)
- Up to 5 Gbps · Fiber, Internet Air & DSL
Strengths and limits
Strengths
- Serves rural addresses cable never reached
- Quick installs — days, not construction seasons
- No phone line or coax needed
- Competitive pricing, often no contract
Limits
- Needs line-of-sight (trees and hills matter)
- Speeds vary with distance and load
- Weather can briefly degrade service
- Upload speeds usually modest
See every fixed wireless internet provider at your address:
Call (855) 643-8023Frequently asked questions
Is fixed wireless internet good?
For rural addresses it is often the best wired-alternative available: 25–100 Mbps typical (up to 1 Gbps on modern equipment), quick installation, and fair pricing. In FCC data it covers 15,312 ZIP codes — check yours against 5G home and Starlink to compare all three.
What is the difference between fixed wireless and 5G home internet?
Same idea, different operators and spectrum: regional WISPs use unlicensed bands and rooftop antennas with professional installs; the national carriers’ 5G home products use licensed spectrum and self-install gateways. Carrier 5G is easier to start; a good WISP link can be more consistent.
Does fixed wireless work in bad weather?
Heavy precipitation can attenuate the signal briefly, but a professionally aimed link with clear line-of-sight is stable in normal weather. Persistent obstructions (growing trees, new buildings) cause more issues than storms.
Keep reading
Coverage statistics: FCC Broadband Data Collection, Dec 2024 vintage (residential filings; ZIP counts reflect at least one provider of this technology per ZIP) — broadbandmap.fcc.gov. Pricing referenced as of July 10, 2026; varies by address.