[Skip to content](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/isp/what-is-a-wireless-internet-service-provider-wisp#maincontent) [The Signal](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal) - [Speed](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/speed) - [Internet Devices](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/internet-devices) - [Internet Help](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/internet-help) - [All Blogs](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/latest) - [ISP](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/isp) - [Speed](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/speed) - [Internet Devices](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/internet-devices) - [Internet Help](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/internet-help) - [All Blogs](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/latest) - [ISP](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/isp) 1. [The Signal](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal) 2. Category:[ISP](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/isp) [ISPCategory](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/isp) # What is a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP)? Published: December 1, 2023 |4 min read You probably already know what an [internet service provider (ISP)](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/isp) is-after all-most of us have used one at some time or another. No es más que una empresa (en muchos casos, tu compañía de televisión por cable) que te ofrece servicio de Internet en casa por un precio. So, what exactly is a wireless internet service provider (WISP) and how is it different from providers of the past?  #### Jump to a Section 1. [DSL internet providers](https://www.t-mobile.com#1) 2. [Satellite internet providers](https://www.t-mobile.com#2) 3. [Cable internet providers](https://www.t-mobile.com#3) 4. [Fiber internet providers](https://www.t-mobile.com#4) 5. [Wireless internet providers](https://www.t-mobile.com#5) - Share "What is a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP)?" on X - Share "What is a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP)?" on Facebook - Share "What is a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP)?" on LinkedIn We'll take a closer look at the advances that have made wireless home internet all the rage, and we'll show you how it differs from DSL, fiber, satellite, and cable internet connections so you can make an informed decision and find a plan that works for you. Let's start with a quick breakdown of each type of provider: - __DSL internet providers.__ If you live in the city, you may be surprised to find that this type of internet connection is still offered by some companies, as it uses a digital subscriber line (DSL) connected through old-fashioned phone lines to keep people connected. Pero, en zonas rurales, DSL es a veces la única opción, ya que utiliza líneas telefónicas que están ampliamente disponibles. And while today's DSL [speeds](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/speed) are not the same as the slow, cumbersome dial-up internet connections of yesteryear-they tend to lag behind other technologies. De hecho, casi el 60% de los habitantes de zonas rurales del país afirman que el acceso a Internet de alta velocidad es un problema en su zona. Lo básico, como consultar el email y navegar por Internet, puede estar bien. Aunque DSL suele ser bastante asequible, hay que tener en cuenta que la velocidad de Internet siempre se ve afectada por la cantidad de dispositivos conectados en el hogar. Así que, el uso de laptops, consolas de videojuegos y televisores conectados al mismo tiempo puede ralentizar aún más las cosas, lo que puede no merecer la pena. (You can get Wi-Fi with DSL, but you'll need to set up a Wi-Fi network by connecting to a wireless [router](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/internet-help/difference-between-modem-router). Suelen estar integrados en el DSL que ofrece tu proveedor de Internet cuando te suscribes). - __Satellite internet providers:__ Satellite internet is provided by communication satellites that orbit around the Earth. They send and receive signals to your ISP, which eventually make it to your home's internet modem. Esta puede ser una buena opción en algunas zonas rurales alejadas donde ni siquiera hay DSL. - __Cable internet providers.__ Cable companies are probably the most familiar type of ISP. They provide a wired internet [connection via the cable](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/isp/ethernet-cables-lan-cables-home-internet) that delivers your TV service, with Wi-Fi available through a wireless router. En general, el cable es más rápido que la DSL. Además, es posible que tengas que comprometerte con un contrato y hacer frente a subidas de precios constantes, así como a los costos de equipos y servicios. Además, hay que preocuparse de las engorrosas y prohibitivas conexiones con cables. - __Fiber internet providers.__ Fiber broadband, or [fiber internet](https://fiber.t-mobile.com/), uses fiber-optic technology to transmit information to your home. Since it doesn't rely on old or outdated infrastructure, it can be a fast, reliable, wired option if you have a lot of gamers, virtual reality enthusiasts, streamers, or have a lot of smart appliances, like doorbell cameras and connected lightbulbs, along with the usual array of laptops, televisions, and [gaming consoles](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/speed/the-internet-speed-you-need-for-gaming). Wifi también está disponible con banda ancha por fibra. ¿Las desventajas? Puede ser caro y hay que tener en cuenta los costes de instalación. Además, Internet por fibra óptica aún está en fase de despliegue y todavía no está disponible en todas partes. - __Wireless internet providers.__ By now, you've likely heard all the buzz around 5G, the next-generation wireless network. You may also have heard a little bit about Wi-Fi 6, which is the [next generation of wireless technology](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/speed/why-your-wi-fi-is-slow-and-how-to-fix-it). Advances in these two technologies have now made it possible to power homes with reliable wireless internet, which is why a company that was once just your cell phone provider is now able to provide you with [wireless home internet](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/isp/how-to-get-wi-fi-for-less), as well. Not to be confused with the [sketchy Wi-Fi connections](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/speed/is-5g-home-internet-faster-than-regular-wi-fi) of the past, wireless home internet is much more powerful. For example, T-Mobile Home Internet utilizes a [5G Gateway](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/gateway) that works in tandem with Wi-Fi 6 and is compatible with T-Mobile's nationwide 5G network to keep you connected at home. You can control the device via a [convenient app,](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/app) and you can set it up yourself in minutes hassle free-with no installation crew, no annual contracts, and no tangled wires. With 50-million homes, one-third of those in rural America, now eligible for T-Mobile Home Internet, we're America's fastest growing [Home Internet](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet) provider. [Check here](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/eligibility) to see if it's available in your area and then take a [test drive](https://www.t-mobile.com/support/home-internet/15-day-test-drive) for 15 days to see if it works for you. __Sources:__ - [https://www.gartner.com/en/glossary](https://www.gartner.com/en/glossary) - [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/09/10/about-a-quarter-of-rural-americans-say-access-to-high-speed-internet-is-a-major-problem/](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/09/10/about-a-quarter-of-rural-americans-say-access-to-high-speed-internet-is-a-major-problem/) - [https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/measuring-broadband-america/measuring-fixed-broadband-eleventh-report](https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/measuring-broadband-america/measuring-fixed-broadband-eleventh-report#_Toc43144651) - [https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/compare-internet-provider-types](https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/compare-internet-provider-types) - [https://www.c1c.net/blog/the-pros-cons-and-difference-between-cable-and-fiber-optic-internet/](https://www.c1c.net/blog/the-pros-cons-and-difference-between-cable-and-fiber-optic-internet/) - [https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/more-5g-for-more-americans](https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/more-5g-for-more-americans) - [https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobile-celebrates-200-hometown-grants](https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobile-celebrates-200-hometown-grants) Tags - [Fiber](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/archive/fiber) - [T-Mobile Home Internet Equipment](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/archive/t-mobile-home-internet-equipment) ## Related Articles NEW [Read More](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/speed/hybrid-fiber-coax-vs-full-fiber-ftth) [](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/speed/hybrid-fiber-coax-vs-full-fiber-ftth) [Speed](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/speed) ## [Choosing Between Hybrid Fiber-Coax vs. Full Fiber (FTTH): What You Need to Know](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/speed/hybrid-fiber-coax-vs-full-fiber-ftth) January 13, 2026 NEW [Read More](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/isp/best-small-business-internet-options) [](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/isp/best-small-business-internet-options) [ISP](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/isp) ## [Best Small Business Internet Options for Startups and Small Teams: Our Picks](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/isp/best-small-business-internet-options) February 24, 2026 NEW [Read More](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/internet-help/wi-fi-6-vs-wi-fi-7) [](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/internet-help/wi-fi-6-vs-wi-fi-7) [Internet Help](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/category/internet-help) ## [Wi-Fi 6 vs. Wi-Fi 7: Key Differences, Features, and Should You Upgrade?](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/the-signal/internet-help/wi-fi-6-vs-wi-fi-7) January 20, 2026 ### Find out if your home address is eligible for T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. [Check availability](https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet/eligibility) Top