In recent years, Brazil has witnessed significant advancements in new forms of wireless connectivity, especially in low-Earth orbit satellite internet and fixed wireless access (FWA). With the rapid expansion of 5G networks and the increased coverage provided by satellite constellations, the Brazilian market now faces a scenario where these technologies can both compete and complement each other, depending on local conditions and the specific needs of users.
5G FWA has been considered an alternative to bring fixed broadband to locations without fiber optic or cable infrastructure. Since December 2, 2024, all 5,570 Brazilian municipalities have been able to receive standalone 5G technology, thanks to the release of the 3.5 GHz band by Anatel, ahead of schedule by 14 months. By March 2025, 5G was already present in more than 895 municipalities, notably in the states of São Paulo (166), Paraná (122), Minas Gerais (111), Santa Catarina (78), and Rio Grande do Sul (63).
In addition to national telecom companies, which have invested heavily in expansion, new regional entrants that acquired 5G licenses in the spectrum auction are also betting on FWA. However, despite the growing interest, current reach is still modest compared to traditional broadband. Studies indicate that around 40% of 5G operators globally already offer FWA – challenges such as the cost of equipment and data caps limit the mass adoption of FWA. Because of this, current FWA offerings come with relatively restrictive data caps, requiring manufacturers to reduce the cost of CPEs to enable greater expansion.
In terms of coverage, FWA depends directly on the availability of the cellular network. In large cities and metropolitan areas where 5G is already present, FWA can be offered quickly – some operators are even announcing the service in cities like São Paulo and Campinas. On the other hand, in rural or remote areas, the absence of 5G towers is a limiting factor. Overall, FWA will be used more where there is already well-established cellular coverage, capitalizing on existing 5G infrastructure to deliver fixed wireless broadband.
Low-Earth orbit satellites: moving forward rapidly.
Alongside FWA, Brazil is witnessing a true revolution in satellite internet, driven by low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites (which orbit approximately 36,000 km from Earth), LEO satellites orbit at just a few hundred km, enabling much lower latency and services more comparable to terrestrial broadband.
Since 2022, a large LEO constellation has been serving the country and has been growing exponentially in users and capacity. Currently, satellite coverage reaches almost 100% of Brazilian territory – users only need an unobstructed view of the sky to connect. This includes everything from farms in remote areas of the Brazilian interior to riverside communities in the Amazon.
Recent data confirms the rapid growth of the LEO satellite user base in Brazil. A report from April 2025 highlighted that the leading low-Earth orbit satellite internet service – Starlink – already had 345,000 active subscribers in Brazil, representing a 2.3-fold increase in just one year – making the country the 4th largest market in the world.
This impressive number – achieved in about two years of commercial operation – positions satellite connectivity as a significant solution, especially in locations where terrestrial networks do not reach. For comparison, in September 2023 it was estimated that 0.8% of all broadband accesses in the country were already via satellite, a proportion that jumps to 2.8% in the North Region, with the LEO constellation accounting for 44% of these satellite accesses (approximately 37,000 connections). In some states in the North, Starlink already holds more than half of all satellite accesses, reflecting its leadership in this niche.
In April 2025, the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) approved the expansion of the LEO satellite license, allowing the operation of 7,500 additional satellites beyond the approximately 4,400 already authorized. This will bring the constellation to nearly 12,000 satellites in orbit serving Brazil in the coming years, reinforcing its capacity and coverage.
Performance and latency
Both systems can deliver broadband speeds, but the numbers depend on the available infrastructure. In measurements in Brazil, Starlink's LEO connection achieved 113 Mbps download and 22 Mbps upload speeds, outperforming other satellites. FWA 5G, when using mid-range frequencies (3.5 GHz), can reach similar or higher speeds depending on antenna proximity and spectrum availability.
Regarding latency, a fixed 5G connection typically has a latency of 20 to 40 milliseconds, similar to that of a conventional mobile network – suitable for real-time applications, video conferencing, etc. The low-Earth orbit satellite constellation, on the other hand, recorded latencies around 50 ms in tests in Brazil, an incredibly low level compared to the 600–800 ms of geostationary satellites.
In practice, 50 ms is close enough to the fiber experience (which ranges from 5–20 ms) to support almost all applications without significant drawbacks. The 30 ms difference between FWA and LEO is not noticeable for most common applications, although 5G in stand-alone mode could theoretically lower latency even further as the core infrastructure evolves.
Despite the similarities, in remote rural areas, or those with poor infrastructure, satellite internet is becoming a savior for the last mile. Where there are no nearby cell towers or fiber backhaul, implementing 5G may not be feasible in the short term – installing a satellite dish becomes the fastest and best-performing solution.
In Brazilian agriculture, for example, the adoption of LEO internet has been celebrated as a productivity factor, connecting farms that were previously offline. Even public agencies have resorted to the space solution to connect schools, health centers, and bases in the forest. Therefore, in areas where operators have no competition, satellites have no competition – they fill a niche of basic and advanced connectivity simultaneously, providing everything from basic internet access to the possibilities of implementing IoT solutions in the field.
Conversely, in urban areas and regions with well-structured mobile networks, 5G FWA should prevail as the preferred option for fixed wireless access. This is because cities have a high density of antennas, ample capacity, and competition between operators – factors that keep prices affordable and allow for generous data packages. FWA can compete directly with traditional broadband in unwired neighborhoods, offering performance similar to fiber in many cases.
In conclusion, the new connectivity landscape in Brazil points to the complementary coexistence of FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) and satellite internet. This is not about direct competition for the same market share, but about optimally meeting different geographical and usage needs. Executives and decision-makers should see these technologies as allies in expanding connectivity: FWA leveraging 5G infrastructure to deliver fast wireless broadband wherever economically viable, and satellite filling gaps and providing mobility and redundancy. This mosaic, if well coordinated, will ensure that digital transformation knows no physical boundaries, bringing quality internet from the center of metropolises to the far reaches of the country, sustainably and efficiently.
