Short answer
Microwave Broadband is a licensed point-to-point or point-to-multipoint radio link from a tower or high site to your premises. Fixed wireless (FWA / Fixed 5G) is a packaged, contended service delivered over fixed 5G or approved partner platforms.
In detail
The practical differences:
- Engineering: microwave is built for your site after a desktop and physical line-of-sight and RF assessment; fixed wireless is a packaged service that depends on coverage and capacity at your address.
- Consistency: microwave is carrier-grade and more consistent than mobile broadband; fixed wireless is contended and best-effort.
- Speeds: fixed wireless is typically asymmetric and uncapped, from about 5 to 10 Mbps up to 100 Mbps or more, depending on technology and distance.
- Service levels: fixed wireless usually carries an availability target of up to about 99%, with next-business-day fault restoration.
- Equipment: microwave uses an outdoor radio or antenna on a roof, wall or mast plus an indoor router; fixed wireless uses an indoor or outdoor unit confirmed during feasibility.
Where a fixed site has no fibre, FirstNet assesses microwave first, then fixed wireless, then LTE/5G. Microwave is also a strong fibre backup because it does not share fibre's trench.
Source: FirstNet Wireless Connectivity service page →
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