Satellite vs. Fixed Wireless

Name: Xplore Business
Address: 5 Granite Road, Brandon, MB, R7A 7V2, Canada
Telephone: 855-638-7381
Price range: $

What is the Best Choice for You?

Person working on computer with fast Internet

Choices. In business, just like in life, there are plenty of them.

And it isn’t always a clear decision between right and wrong. Rather, it’s about choosing what’s right for your organization.

Deciding between satellite and fixed wireless Internet is no different. While both are proven, reliable technologies with the power to fuel your Internet connection, the needs of your business will determine the best option for you.

So what’s your best choice? To help you decide, let’s take a look at both and the differences between them.

What Is Fixed Wireless Internet?

Fixed wireless Internet relies on local access points, usually in the form of wireless towers. To provide you with the best possible connection, these towers need to be located close – within a 16-kilometre radius of your business – so that they can distribute a wireless connection to your router. Xplornet has over 10,000 towers located coast to coast.

Fixed wireless offers several benefits to businesses:

Latency: Given the close proximity of these wireless towers, you can expect low latency and little lag time.
Weather: Weather is unlikely to get in the way of your connection. After all, storms high above the towers, or kilometres away, aren’t likely to affect wireless towers.
Bandwidth: Bandwidth is reliable, making it easy to download and upload files, use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and access Software as a Service (SaaS) applications.

Fixed wireless is a good choice for many businesses. But before you make a decision, let’s look at satellite Internet as well.

What Is Satellite Internet?

Satellite Internet, on the other hand, relies on satellites orbiting the Earth. Unlike fixed wireless, these are anything but local. Situated more than 35,000 kilometres above us, they deliver a signal to a satellite dish that feeds your business’s connection. Xplornet, for instance, has five active satellites in orbit, dedicated to connecting our customers Canada-wide.

So what are the main benefits of satellite Internet, then?

Access: Satellite can deliver Internet anywhere. Since signals are delivered from space, it can provide a high-quality connection to even the most rural or remote areas.
Reliability: Satellite Internet is fast and reliable, as well as relatively easy to install – all pluses for businesses with satellite connections.

So which is best for your business: satellite or fixed wireless?

What’s Best for You?

When making the choice between fixed wireless and satellite Internet for your business, consider the following:

Location: Where are you located? While there are wireless towers across the country, serving locations coast to coast, satellite Internet is available literally anywhere. That means even the remotest and most rural of businesses can benefit from it.
Latency: Latency is the biggest difference between fixed wireless and satellite Internet. Because a satellite connection comes from so far away, it can suffer from high latency – leading to increased lag times. That’s not an issue when it comes to most of your day-to-day activities, though – like emails, transferring large files or streaming videos. But real-time activities like VPN services or videoconferencing may be affected.

Choosing the best option for your business, then, starts with evaluating your business needs – and determining what’s available in your location. From there, you can make the right choice for you.

Learn more about our satellite and fixed wireless business Internet options.