Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)

A broadband technology using wireless radio links to provide high-speed internet connectivity to fixed locations (homes, businesses) as an alternative to wired connections (DSL, cable, fiber). FWA typically uses 4G LTE or 5G cellular technology with Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) installed at the user location receiving signals from a nearby base station. FWA enables rapid deployment in underserved or rural areas where wired infrastructure is not economically viable.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkInternet and Routing

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in context

The radio access network is where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations and downgrade attacks; defenses rest on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

Telecom networks depend on Internet-style routing (BGP, DNS, MPLS) for interconnect. Route hijacks and DNS abuse can degrade or intercept signaling, which is why RPKI and DNSSEC are now standard hardening for carrier networks.

To place Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in the wider telecom-security picture, review A5/3, Broadband, BSS, CDMA, Core Network and CVE — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.