Fixed Wireless Access Companies Compared
This article assesses fixed wireless access equipment suppliers and ranks the top six based on maximum throughput, interference canceling technology, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) capability, beamforming capacity, and access points per tower. Below, we offer more details on the ranking criteria.
Maximum Throughput
Throughput is vital in providing broadband speeds to subscribers, so it takes the top spot in the ratings criteria for fixed wireless access companies.
Interference Canceling Technology
Canceling interference enables uninterrupted service, a top concern for any internet service provider.
NLOS Capability
Providing wireless access despite obstacles such as buildings and trees sets top fixed wireless access providers apart from their competition.
Beamforming
With beamforming, fixed wireless access points can direct the signal in a particular direction, which results in an improved signal.
Access Points per Tower
Having up to four access points per tower ensures the maximum number of subscribers serviced per tower, improving coverage and reducing costs.
| Top 6 Fixed Wireless Access Companies: Equipment | ||||||
| Rank | Company | Maximum Throughput |
NLOS Capability |
Interference Canceling Technology |
Beamforming | Access Point per Tower |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarana Wireless |
Up to 10 Gbps | Advanced | Yes | Yes | 1-4 |
| 2 | Cambium Networks |
Up to 6 Gbps | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1-2 |
| 3 | Mimosa Networks |
Up to 6 Gbps | Yes | Yes | Yes | 1-2 |
| 4 | Ubiquiti | Up to 1.3 Gbps | Limited | Yes | Yes | 1-2 |
| 5 | MikroTik | Up to 890 Mbps | Limited | Limited | Yes | 1-2 |
Top 6 Fixed Wireless Access Companies Compared: Equipment
#1 Tarana Wireless
Founded in 2009, Tarana’s mission is to accelerate the deployment of fast, affordable internet access worldwide. The Tarana team has developed next-generation fixed wireless access (ngFWA) technology that powers its first commercial platform, Gigabit 1 (G1). It uses licensed and unlicensed spectrum to deliver advanced broadband connectivity for mainstream and underserved markets. The G1 Platform started production in mid-2021 and has been embraced by more than 200 service providers in 21 countries. Tarana is headquartered in Milpitas, California, with additional research and development in Pune, India.
Maximum Throughput: Up to 10 Gbps
Interference Canceling Technology: Self-interference cancellation and advanced burst interference cancellation
NLOS Capability: Delivers fiber-class broadband over NLOS link with up to 3 km range
Beamforming: Auto-convergent, retro-directive beamforming
Access Points per Tower: Up to 4 APs per tower
Contact: Tarana Wireless Website
Clients say...
Tarana has the best interference mitigation we've ever seen and the best NLOS performance of any 5GHz radio we've ever seen.”
#2 Cambium Networks
Cambium Networks manufactures point-to-point backhaul, point-to-multipoint communication wide area network (WAN), Wi-Fi indoor and outdoor access, and cloud-based network management systems. The company’s solutions are used by broadband service providers and managed service providers to connect business and residential locations in dense urban, suburban, rural and remote locations, including education and healthcare.
Maximum Throughput: Up to 1.3 Gbps
Interference Canceling Technology: Narrow beams created in the downlink and uplink beamforming mode reduce interference.
NLOS Capability: Reliable link for near-line-of-sight and NLOS deployments
Beamforming: Smart Beamforming technology
Access Points per Tower: Up to 2 APs per tower
Contact: Cambium Networks Website
Clients say...
Cambium's access points with cloud central management system provide high bandwidth and performance to meet enterprise business requirements.”
#3 Mimosa Networks
Mimosa Networks, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Radisys Corporation, is a technology leader in wireless broadband solutions, enabling service providers to connect dense, urban, and hard-to-reach rural homes at a fraction of the cost of fiber. Mimosa’s access, backhaul, and client solutions are deployed in a hybrid fiber-wireless architecture and engineered for both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections across a variety of diverse applications, including residential and business high-speed internet access, surveillance, public safety, education, and hospitality networking. Mimosa's technology delivers cost-effective spectral efficiency, allowing scarce spectrum to be concurrently and reliably shared across networks.
Maximum Throughput: Up to 6Gbps
Interference Canceling Technology: Multiple-input multiple-output concept reduces interference
NLOS Capability: Able to use spectrum with NLOS capability for last-mile connectivity
Beamforming: Antenna signals are used to send multiple copies of the same data streams, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio through beamforming
Access Points per Tower: Up to 2 APs per tower
Contact: Mimosa Website
Clients say...
They were most impressed with the capacity, performance, and economics of Mimosa.”
#4 Ubiquiti
Ubiquiti is a U.S. technology company founded in San Jose, California, in 2003. Now based in New York City, Ubiquiti manufactures and sells wireless data communication and wired products for enterprises and homes under multiple brand names, including UniFi, AmpliFi, EdgeMax, UISP, airMAX, airFiber, GigaBeam, and UFiber.
Maximum Throughput: Up to 1.3 Gbps
Interference Canceling Technology: Designed active interference cancellation capability into the protocol used by APs
NLOS Capability: Limited
Beamforming: GigaBeam APs have automatic beamforming antennas (phased arrays)
Access Points per Tower: Up to 2 APs per tower
Contact: Ubiquiti Website
Clients say...
Ubiquiti APs are high-performance, perfectly designed, easy-to-set-up access points that provide seamless Wi-Fi coverage for environments that have a high density of clients.”
#5 MikroTik
MikroTik is a manufacturer of networking technologies founded in 1996. MikroTik has product lines that include network routers, switches, WiFi home routers, and 60 GHz devices for both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint setups. The company is located in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, and has more than 280 employees.
Maximum Throughput: Up to 890 Mbps
Interference Canceling Technology: Limited
NLOS Capability: Limited
Beamforming: Yes
Access Points per Tower: Up to 2 APs per tower
Contact: MikroTik Website
Clients say...
MikroTik APs are one of the more flexible and fully featured devices out there. Their QoS is among the top I have worked with.”
WAV Is a Trusted Partner of Tarana Wireless
WAV can help you choose the best fixed wireless access company for your service environment. Based on this assessment, Tarana Wireless is the best choice because of its maximum throughput, interference-canceling technology, NLOS capability, beamforming capability, and number of access points per tower. Contact us to learn more about the benefits of using Tarana Wireless for your next project.
Contact MBSI WAV to learn more about the benefits of Tarana’s G1 ngFWA platform.
