WiFi vs. Fiber vs. Fixed Wireless: What's the Difference

Three ways to get internet into your home

When people say WiFi they usually mean their whole internet connection, but WiFi is actually just the last few meters between your router and your devices. What matters more for overall performance is how the internet gets to your home in the first place: fiber, cable, or fixed wireless.

Fiber internet

Fiber uses glass cable to transmit data as light, allowing very high speeds and symmetrical upload and download speeds. Fiber's main limitation is availability since it has to be physically run to your address.

Cable internet

Cable internet uses the same coaxial infrastructure as cable TV. It's widely available with fast download speeds, but upload speeds are typically much lower and performance can dip during peak evening hours.

Fixed wireless internet

Fixed wireless beams a signal from a tower to a receiver dish on your home, skipping the need for buried or overhead cable. This makes it practical in rural areas where running fiber or cable isn't cost-effective.

How to decide

If fiber is available at your address, it's generally the best option. In rural or acreage properties, fixed wireless is often the most practical high-speed option. If you upload large files or work from home on video calls, prioritize upload speed over headline download numbers.

BigWiFi operates fiber and fixed wireless infrastructure across Alberta, so it's worth checking directly what's available at your address.