Director of Solution Engineering Rusty Jackson has recently been focusing on fixed wireless, a hot topic amongst telecom professionals. With his vast knowledge and expertise, this article answers the question, “Wireline vs wireless: Which one is best for your business?” See how he compares fixed wireless to traditional wireline below.
Wireline Internet is a traditional approach to connectivity where the network technology is ground based and engrained in the infrastructure of a location using DSL and cable modems. Click here to learn more about wireline.
Fixed wireless (FW) is the use of a cellular network to provide connectivity to virtually any location via wireless connectivity like LTE or 5G. Want more information? Hyperion’s VP of Business Sales wrote a detailed article titled, “What is Fixed Wireless?”
The term “broadband” is used in a variety of capacities in the world of telecommunications. Typically, when engineers say “broadband” we are referring to the specific frequencies that make connectivity possible. “Broadband” is also used among the technology sales community to refer to the wireline/DSL/cable modem model.
When comparing wireline vs wireless and evaluating which option is right for which customer, I ask myself these three questions:
While installing wireline requires a heavy, physical lift; fixed wireless does not. However, the location of wireless installation may have a few physical barriers that could inhibit the cellular connection.
Fixed wireless is more flexible than its wireline cousin. As long as there is a similar level of available coverage, fixed wireless solutions can be picked up and moved to a new location – becoming active almost immediately. With wireline, changing locations takes the extra steps of disconnects, order entry and additional associated costs.
Coverage is king. With 5G connectivity sweeping the nation, fixed wireless is proving to be a successful and preferable in more areas – including rural locations. While wireline utilizes one carrier, making it susceptible to error if that carrier experiences outages, fixed wireless can utilize multiple, therefore increasing its dependability.
| Focus Factor | Fixed Wireless | Traditional Wireline | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reliability | Fixed wireless eliminates environmental outages like storms or construction errors, making it an extremely reliable option. | Traditional wireline is tried a true and convenient when infrastructure does not enable a fixed wireless approach; however, it depends on a lot of environmental factors, making it more susceptible for error. | Many of our customers find utilizing both wireless and wireline to be the most dependable option – Choosing wireline for day-to-day functions and fixed wireless for failover, you can’t go wrong! |
| Flexibility | If flexibility is your priority, fixed wireless is your answer due to its ability to move from location to location. | While it can be done, relocating traditional wireline comes at a cost and at a slower pace. | Using fixed wireless while your wireline transitions to a new location is the best of both worlds. You can even continue fixed wireless service as failover after the transition. |
| Infrastructure | Manageably-sized infrastructures like small retail, banks or quick serve locations processing a normal amount of data download/upload best support fixed wireless solutions. | Large or extremely open areas like factories or large parks processing a high amount of data download/upload best support traditional wireline. | Infrastructures that are categorized as medium-sized areas processing an intermediate amount of data may best support both options with wireline for primary connectivity and wireless for failover! |
| Coverage | Locations with high amounts of coverage point to fixed wireless as an optimal solution. | Locations with low amounts of coverage point to fixed wireless as an optimal solution. | Typically, experts are able to identify which level of coverage is available at a location. If a location has coverage that varies, it wouldn’t hurt to cover your bases with both solutions. |
| Cost | Fixed wireless can be a more cost-effective solution saving money up front with unlimited data plans and down the road if location of service changes. | Traditional wireline can become expensive quickly if a business requires flexibility or if data needs expand beyond the decided upon plan. | Paying for both fixed wireless and traditional wireline is the most technically expensive option upfront; however, connectivity failure can cost your business much more if you don’t have a backup plan. |
| Installation | Fixed wireless is by far the most efficient solution to implement. Customers can expect a fast turnaround because all they need is connectivity and devices/accessories with little to no on-site installation. | Waiting for wireline equipment, approval and installation can take weeks to months depending on the deployment size and location. | Opting for both wireless and wireline is a great solution for customers who need to be operating now but want a well-rounded connectivity set up. |
Our solution, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), harnesses the power of cellular to provide robust communications to any fixed location via LTE or 5G services. Hyperion has unmatched experience when it comes to the unique challenges presented by a distributed footprint of locations, employees and vehicles. We successfully serve a diverse range of industries from retail, manufacturing, and healthcare to transportation and large enterprises.
We offer turn-key connectivity solutions, from products to lifecycle and managed services, provide crucial failover capabilities, including VAST, our tailored solution that combines multiple carriers into one easy solution and simplifies the complicated and ever-changing telecommunications ecosystem.
We’d love to do exactly that for you and your business.
If you have more questions about fixed wireless and traditional wireline, contact us today. Or, click here if you're interested in becoming a great channel partner with a true mobility master agent.
