In recent years, Brazil has witnessed significant advancements in new forms of wireless connectivity, particularly in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). With the rapid expansion of 5G networks and 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 users’ specific needs.
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 are eligible to receive standalone 5G technology, thanks to Anatel’s release of the 3.5 GHz band, accelerating the original schedule by 14 months. By March 2025, 5G was already available in over 895 municipalities, with notable coverage in São Paulo (166), Paraná (122), Minas Gerais (111), Santa Catarina (78), and Rio Grande do Sul (63).
In addition to national telecom companies, which heavily invested in expansion, new regional entrants that acquired 5G licenses in the spectrum auction are also betting on FWA. However, despite growing interest, current reach remains modest compared to traditional broadband. Studies indicate that about 40% of global 5G operators already offer FWA—challenges such as equipment costs and data caps limit mass FWA adoption. As a result, current FWA offerings come with relatively restrictive data caps, requiring manufacturers to reduce CPE costs to enable broader expansion.
In terms of coverage, FWA directly depends on cellular network availability. In major cities and metropolitan areas where 5G is already present, FWA can be quickly deployed—some operators have already announced service in cities like São Paulo and Campinas. Conversely, in rural or remote areas, the absence of 5G towers is a limitation. Overall, FWA will be more widely used where well-established cellular coverage exists, leveraging existing 5G infrastructure to deliver wireless fixed broadband.
Low Earth Orbit Satellites: Advancing Rapidly
Parallel to FWA, Brazil is experiencing a revolution in satellite internet, driven by low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites (orbiting ~36,000 km from Earth), LEO satellites orbit just a few hundred kilometers away, enabling much lower latency and services more comparable to terrestrial broadband.
Since 2022, a major LEO constellation has been serving the country and has grown exponentially in users and capacity. Currently, satellite coverage reaches nearly 100% of Brazil—users only need an unobstructed view of the sky to connect. This includes remote farms in Brazil’s interior and riverside communities in the Amazon.
Recent data confirms the rapid growth of LEO satellite users in Brazil. An April 2025 report highlighted that the leading low Earth orbit satellite internet service—Starlink—already had 345,000 active subscribers in Brazil, a 2.3-fold increase in just one year, making the country the 4th largest market worldwide.
This impressive number—achieved in about two years of commercial operation—positions satellite connectivity as a major solution, especially in areas unreachable by terrestrial networks. For comparison, in September 2023, satellite broadband accounted for 0.8% of all broadband connections nationwide, jumping to 2.8% in the North Region, with LEO constellations responsible for 44% of these satellite connections (~37,000). In some Northern states, Starlink already holds over half of all satellite connections, reflecting its dominance in this niche.
In April 2025, Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) approved the expansion of the LEO satellite license, allowing the operation of 7,500 additional satellites beyond the ~4,400 already authorized. This will enable the constellation to reach nearly 12,000 satellites serving Brazil in the coming years, enhancing its capacity and coverage.
Performance and Latency
Both systems can deliver broadband speeds, but performance depends on available infrastructure. In Brazilian tests, Starlink’s LEO connection achieved 113 Mbps download and 22 Mbps upload, outperforming other satellites. Meanwhile, 5G FWA using mid-band frequencies (3.5 GHz) can achieve similar or higher speeds depending on antenna proximity and spectrum availability.
Regarding latency, fixed 5G connections typically range between 20–40 milliseconds, similar to conventional mobile networks—suitable for real-time applications like videoconferencing. Low Earth orbit satellites recorded latencies around 50 ms in Brazilian tests, remarkably low compared to geostationary satellites (600–800 ms).
In practice, 50 ms is sufficiently close to fiber (5–20 ms) to support nearly all applications without major drawbacks. The 30 ms difference between FWA and LEO is imperceptible for most common uses, though standalone 5G could theoretically reduce latency further as core infrastructure evolves.
Despite similarities, in remote rural areas with poor infrastructure, satellite internet emerges as the last-mile savior. Where nearby cell towers or fiber backhaul are absent, deploying 5G may not be viable in the short term—installing a satellite dish becomes the fastest and highest-performing solution.
In Brazilian agriculture, for example, LEO internet adoption has been hailed as a productivity booster, connecting previously offline farms. Even public agencies have turned to satellite solutions for schools, health posts, and forest bases. Thus, in areas underserved by operators, satellites face no competition—they fill a niche for both basic and advanced connectivity, enabling everything from simple internet access to IoT solutions in the field.
Conversely, in urban areas with well-structured mobile networks, 5G FWA should prevail as the preferred wireless fixed-access option. Cities benefit from high antenna density, surplus capacity, and operator competition—factors that keep prices affordable and allow generous data plans. FWA can directly compete with traditional broadband in uncabled neighborhoods, often delivering fiber-like performance.
In conclusion, Brazil’s new connectivity landscape points to the complementary coexistence of FWA and satellite internet. This is not a head-to-head competition for the same market share but an optimized approach to serving different geographic and usage needs. Executives and decision-makers should view these technologies as allies in expanding connectivity: FWA leverages 5G infrastructure to deliver fast wireless broadband where economically viable, while satellites cover gaps and provide mobility and redundancy. If well-coordinated, this mosaic will ensure digital transformation knows no physical boundaries, bringing quality internet from metropolitan centers to the country’s farthest reaches—sustainably and efficiently.
