Explore your business internet options.See which business internet service is available in your area and view pricing.
Author: Shane Schick
Running a successful small business means providing everyone on the team with the information and tools they need to work with speed and agility. That makes choosing the right business internet service one of the most important decisions you can make.
You may already be familiar with some of the existing connectivity options, such as digital subscriber line (DSL), cable broadband or mobile hotspots. As more small businesses discover the power of wireless connectivity and 5G in particular, wireless business internet represents a compelling approach that deserves a closer look.
What is wireless business internet?
Unlike DSL or fiber, wireless business internet uses a base station to transmit radio waves that are picked up by transceivers either in an LTE chip in a router or via a 5G receiver that a company installs on-site. A router can then deliver reliable Wi-Fi connectivity to a small business team's devices at their fixed location. This could include an office, store or even a kiosk.
Devices connected using 5G can move although the device providing connectivity (e.g., the receiver) does not move. Keeping the point-to-point connection stationary and connecting with either midband or millimeter wave spectrum, helps preserve low latency and offers a consistent customer experience.
This is different from 4G LTE services, where a wireless business internet connection has more flexibility to switch from one tower to another as a device moves from place to place. Small businesses can also enjoy faster speeds using 5G wireless business internet versus 4G LTE wireless business internet.
DSL, meanwhile, transmits internet signals using traditional phone lines, enabling small businesses to use both internet and phone services at the same time. 5G Business Internet has these capabilities along with high speeds that DSL alone cannot deliver.
How can small businesses use wireless business internet?
In a 2021 5G Americas report, fixed wireless access, also known as wireless business internet, was described as a way to close the digital divide in transitionally underserved areas.
For companies headquartered or with branch offices in rural locations, for example, wireless business internet can help to quickly provide the reliable access they need. LTE Business Internet coverage is nearly ubiquitous in the U.S., and the 5G Business Internet network is constantly expanding, becoming more and more available all the time.
Fixed wireless access over 5G could also provide cost benefits to companies, allowing them to get high bandwidth connectivity based on flexible plans that align with their everyday usage.
For small businesses that need to be online at all times, wireless business internet can be provisioned to act as a critical backup, automatically taking over if a wireline connection goes down for any reason. In that sense, wireless business internet could offer small businesses both performance and peace of mind.
Learn more about how wireless business internet can get your small business up and running.
The author of this content is a paid contributor for Verizon.