If you're currently trying to decide on an Internet service, then one option you might consider is wireless broadband. Wireless broadband has many advantages over other Internet technologies, but there are also a couple drawbacks that you should be aware of. Let's take a closer look at wireless broadband and how fast it is.

What is wireless broadband?

Wireless broadband is Internet service that is delivered to your computer or mobile device wirelessly through the air rather than the traditional method of through cables. Traditionally, Internet has been delivered to homes either through cable wires or via the telephone line. Now, the Internet can be delivered wirelessly either by satellite or through cell phone towers. The "broadband" part of wireless broadband implies that you can receive your Internet at a fairly high rate of speed. Broadband is defined by the 802.16-2004 standard as having a minimum speed capacity of 1-1.5 Mb/s. This means that you'll be able to receive data at least as quickly as this.

Who is Wireless Broadband Good For?

There are many reasons that you might want to consider wireless broadband as your Internet service choice. One of the primary reasons is the flexibility. If you decide upon a mobile broadband service, you can usually get your service through a small modem that you plug into your USB port. These modems aren't much bigger than the size of a flash thumb drive. This means that if you have a laptop, then you can use your Internet service at nearly any location around town that you wish. As long as you are in range of your cellular network, you should be all set. This is great if you like to access the Internet on the go but are often frustrated when you can't find a suitable WiFi connection.

If you live in a rural area away from landline telephone or cable television service, then you might not have a choice but to go wireless. In this case, satellite Internet service can be a lifesaver. You will be able to access the Internet just as easy and quickly as your city brethren.

How it Compares to Other Technologies

Although Wireless broadband truly is broadband, its top speeds can't yet compare to the top speeds of wired services like cable and ADSL. Currently, the top speeds for mobile broadband are in the range of 3-6 Mb per second. For satellite, the top speed is around 3 Mb per second. It is also important to keep in mind with satellite that there is a noticeable delay before a download begins or a web page begins to load every time you make a request. This is because your request must simply travel the vast distance to space and back multiple times.

By comparison, the top speeds of Cable and ADSL technologies are typically in the range of 24-30 Mb per second. This makes them a superior choice if you plan on downloading large media files on a regular basis.

Overall, wireless broadband certainly has many positive aspects. Although its speed is zippy enough to satisfy most users who aren't downloading large files, speed isn't its strongest point. The main benefit of wireless broadband is the ability to receive Internet service when you are away from your home or your town.