In recent years, Brazil has witnessed significant advances 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 users' specific needs.
The FWA 5G 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 the release of the 3.5 GHz band by Anatel, ahead of the scheduled timeline by 14 months. By March 2025, 5G was already present in more than 895 municipalities, with highlights in the states of São Paulo (166), Paraná (122), Minas Gerais (111), Santa Catarina (78), and Rio Grande do Sul (63).
In addition to the national telecom companies, which invested heavily in expansion, new regional entrants that acquired 5G licenses in the spectrum auction are also betting on FWA. But, despite the growing interest, the current reach is still modest compared to traditional broadband. Studies indicate that about 40% of operators worldwide already offer FWA – challenges such as equipment costs and data caps limit mass adoption of FWA. As a result, current FWA offerings come with relatively limited data allowances and require 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 regions where 5G is already available, FWA can be offered quickly – in fact, some operators are already 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 more used where there is already well-established cellular coverage, leveraging existing 5G infrastructure to deliver fixed wireless broadband.
Low Earth orbit satellites: advancing 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 at about 36,000 km from Earth), LEO satellites orbit at a few hundred kilometers, enabling much lower latencies 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 already reaches practically 100% of Brazilian territory – the user just needs 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 confirm the rapid growth of the LEO satellite user base 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, 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 heavyweight 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 via satellite, a proportion that rises to 2.8% in the Northern Region, with the LEO constellation accounting for 44% of these satellite accesses (about 37,000 connections). In some states in the North, Starlinnk already holds more than half of all satellite access, reflecting its leadership in this niche.
The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) approved in April 2025 the expansion of the LEO satellite license, allowing the operation of an additional 7,500 satellites beyond the approximately 4,400 already authorized. With this, the constellation could reach nearly 12,000 satellites in orbit serving Brazil in the coming years, enhancing 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, the Starlink LEO connection with 113 Mbps download and 22 Mbps upload, outperforming other satellites. As for FWA 5G, when using mid-band frequencies (3.5 GHz), it can achieve similar or higher speeds depending on the proximity to the antenna and spectrum availability.
Regarding latency, a fixed 5G connection typically has latency around 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 recorded latencies of 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 to 20 ms) to support almost all applications without significant drawbacks. The 30 ms difference between FWA and LEO is not perceptible for most common applications, although 5G in stand-alone mode can theoretically reduce latency even further as core infrastructure evolves.
Despite the similarities, in remote rural areas or with poor infrastructure, satellite internet is consolidating itself as the last mile savior. Where there are no nearby cell towers or fiber backhaul, implementing 5G may not be feasible in the short term – installing a satellite antenna becomes the fastest and most effective 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 turned to space solutions to connect schools, health posts, and bases in the forest. Therefore, in the shadowed areas of operators, the satellite has no competition – it fills a niche of both basic and advanced connectivity, providing everything from basic internet access to the possibilities of implementing IoT solutions in the field.
However, in urban areas and regions with well-established mobile networks, 5G FWA is expected to prevail as the preferred fixed wireless access option. This is because cities have a high density of antennas, excess capacity, and competition among operators – factors that keep prices affordable and allow for generous data packages. The FWA can compete directly with traditional broadband in un-cabled neighborhoods, offering performance similar to fiber in many cases.
In conclusion, the new connectivity landscape in Brazil points to the complementary coexistence of FWA and satellite internet. It's not about a direct competition for the same market share, but about optimally meeting different geographic 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 feasible, and satellites covering gaps and providing mobility and redundancy. This mosaic, if well coordinated, will ensure that digital transformation knows no physical borders, bringing quality internet from the heart of the metropolises to the farthest corners of the country, in a sustainable and efficient manner.
