In recent years, Brazil has witnessed significant advancements in new forms of wireless connectivity, particularly in low Earth orbit satellite internet and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). With the rapid expansion of 5G networks and improved coverage from satellite constellations, the Brazilian market now faces a scenario where these technologies can either compete or complement each other, depending on local conditions and users’ specific needs.
5G FWA has been considered an alternative for delivering fixed broadband to areas lacking fiber optic or cable infrastructure. Since December 2, 2024, all 5,570 Brazilian municipalities are eligible to receive standalone 5G technology, thanks to the release of the 3.5 GHz band by Anatel, surpassing the original schedule by 14 months. By March 2025, 5G was already available in over 895 municipalities, with emphasis on 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 heavily invested in expansion, new regional entrants who 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 show that around 40% of global 5G operators already offer FWA—challenges like equipment costs and data caps limit mass FWA adoption. Because of this, current FWA offerings come with relatively restrictive data caps and require manufacturers to reduce CPE costs to enable further expansion.
In terms of coverage, FWA is directly dependent on cellular network availability. In major cities and metropolitan areas where 5G is already present, FWA can be quickly rolled out—some operators have already announced 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 more widely used where well-established cellular coverage exists, leveraging existing 5G infrastructure to deliver fixed wireless broadband.
Low Earth Orbit Satellites: Rapid Progress
Alongside FWA, Brazil is witnessing a revolution in satellite internet, driven by Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Unlike traditional geostationary satellites (which orbit at ~36,000 km from Earth), LEO satellites orbit just a few hundred kilometers, enabling much lower latency and services more comparable to terrestrial broadband.
Since 2022, a major LEO constellation has been serving the country, growing exponentially in users and capacity. Currently, satellite coverage already reaches nearly 100% of Brazilian territory—users only need an unobstructed view of the sky to connect. This includes remote farms in Brazil’s interior to 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 LEO satellite internet service—Starlink—already had 345,000 active subscribers in Brazil, a 2.3x increase in just one year, making the country the 4th largest market globally.
This impressive number—achieved in just two years of commercial operation—positions satellite connectivity as a robust solution, especially in areas where terrestrial networks are unavailable. For comparison, in September 2023, it was estimated that 0.8% of all broadband connections in Brazil were via satellite, jumping to 2.8% in the Northern Region, where LEO constellations accounted for 44% of satellite connections (~37,000). In some Northern states, Starlink already holds more than half of all satellite connections, reflecting its leadership 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 means the constellation could reach nearly 12,000 satellites serving Brazil in the coming years, reinforcing 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.
In terms of latency, fixed 5G typically has a latency of 20 to 40 milliseconds, similar to conventional mobile networks—adequate for real-time applications, video calls, etc. In contrast, LEO satellite constellations registered latencies around 50 ms in Brazilian tests—significantly lower than the 600–800 ms of geostationary satellites.
In practice, 50 ms is sufficiently close to fiber (which ranges from 5–20 ms) to support nearly all applications without major drawbacks. The 30 ms difference between FWA and LEO is imperceptible for most common applications, though 5G stand-alone could theoretically lower latency further as core infrastructure evolves.
Despite their similarities, in remote rural areas with poor infrastructure, satellite internet emerges as the last-mile savior. Where no nearby cell towers or fiber backhaul exist, deploying 5G may not be viable in the short term—installing a satellite dish becomes the fastest and highest-performance solution.
In Brazilian agriculture, for instance, LEO internet adoption has been celebrated as a productivity booster, connecting farms that were previously offline. Even government agencies have turned to space-based solutions to link schools, healthcare centers, and forest outposts. Therefore, in areas underserved by operators, satellites face no competition—they fill a niche covering both basic and advanced connectivity, from simple internet access to IoT solutions in the field.
In contrast, in urban areas and regions with well-structured mobile networks, 5G FWA is likely to prevail as the preferred wireless fixed-access option. Cities benefit from high antenna density, ample capacity, and competitive pricing—factors that keep costs low and enable generous data plans. In uncabled neighborhoods, FWA can compete directly with traditional broadband, often delivering fiber-like performance.
In conclusion, Brazil’s new connectivity landscape points toward the complementary coexistence of FWA and satellite internet. This is not a head-to-head competition for the same market but an optimized approach to addressing different geographical and usage needs. Executives and decision-makers should view these technologies as allies in expanding connectivity: FWA leveraging 5G infrastructure to deliver fast wireless broadband where economically viable, and satellites covering gaps while ensuring mobility and redundancy. If well-coordinated, this mosaic will ensure digital transformation knows no physical boundaries, bringing quality internet from metropolitan hubs to the country’s farthest reaches—sustainably and efficiently.
