Wireless Internet Access

Wireless access providers connect homes and businesses to the Internet using wireless, or radio connection technology, rather than using technologies such as coaxial cable (CM) or twisted copper paired telephone lines (DSL). Wireless providers can use mobile or fixed wireless technologies.

Generally, with fixed wireless technology, a computer, or network of computers, employs a radio link from the customer's location to the service provider. This radio link is usually established between rooftop antennas in order for the radio link to have direct line of sight between the two antennas. These rooftop antennas are usually dish shaped antennas with a very narrow beam of connectivity to prevent interference. The antenna at the customer's location is connected by a cable that runs between the rooftop antenna and the local transmitting and receiving radio equipment. This terminal radio equipment is then connected to the local computer network.

With mobile wireless Internet access, information is transmitted in basically the same way wireless phone calls are transmitted. When a consumer types information into his or her handheld wireless device, it is converted to radio waves. The radio waves travel through the air until they reach a receiver at a nearby base station. The base station then sends the information through the telephone network and Internet until it reaches its destination. When a consumer receives information through the Internet on the consumer's wireless device, the data travels through the telephone network until it reaches a base station close to the consumer's device. Then the base station sends out radio waves that are detected by a receiver in the consumer's device.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wireless 

Fixed wireless access customers can be located between 2 and 35 miles from the wireless provider's network between the two locations. Fixed wireless provides Internet-access at speeds ranging from one up to 155 megabits per second (Mbps). Of course the fixed wireless radio access is dependent on the radio connection and the quality of the radio connection will determine the ultimate quality of service to the customer.

There are several types of new technologies under development that will make it easier for consumers to access the Internet through fixed wireless services. Some providers have initiated wireless access that does not require line of sight radio connectivity. Since many customers may not have line of sight capabilities, this technology could create additional fixed wireless opportunities for consumers. Other providers are implementing systems that are easy for the customer to install and simply "plug and play."

There are thousands of commercial locations across the country, such as restaurants, hotels, airports, bookstores, convention centers, and city parks and squares, where customers can use laptop computers, handheld devices, and other portable computing devices with special "wireless modem cards" to connect to the Internet wirelessly. While consumers cannot get wireless Internet access once outside these buildings or "hotspots," inside the hotspots they can get Internet access on their devices at speeds of up to 11 Mbps. Also, some wireless providers offer customers packages where they can get wireless Internet access at a collection of different hotspots. The technology that enables the wireless access in hotspots is called "WiFi." This technology was originally developed as a home networking technology to network home computers wirelessly. There are currently efforts in the industry to develop solutions to extend this technology for longer distances where WiFi can be used as the last-mile solution for Internet access.

Finally, wireless carriers are planning to provide some measure of high-speed Internet access on mobile, or cellular, phones using what is called "third generation" technology. This technology would give mobile phone users, with the appropriate digital phone, the ability to access the Internet via their phone at speeds up to 2 Mbps in order to provide multi-media types of services. These mobile devices would be connected via radio to a network of base stations that in turn provide connection around the country. Most of the national cellular phone carriers are on an evolutionary path to provide data services over their networks, and many carriers have already upgraded their networks to provide mobile Internet access at speeds comparable to landline dial-up Internet access.

This capability would give mobile phone users with the appropriate digital phone, the ability to access the Internet via their phone at speeds up to 2 Mbps in order to provide multi-media types of services. Future generations of mobile phone service promise even faster speeds but are envisioned for some time in the future.

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