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Fixed Wireless Coverage & Limitations

Last updated on Apr 07, 2026

Applies to: Pickle customers on NBN Fixed Wireless connections

What Is Fixed Wireless?

Fixed Wireless is a type of NBN internet connection that delivers your internet signal via radio transmission — not through cables buried in the ground or run along utility poles.

How it works:

  • A nearby NBN transmission tower broadcasts a radio signal across the surrounding area

  • An outdoor antenna is installed on or near your building to receive that signal

  • The antenna connects to an NTD (Network Termination Device) — a small box installed inside the building by NBN Co

  • Your router plugs into the NTD and distributes internet throughout the premises

Fixed Wireless is used in areas where running physical cable to every building is not practical — typically regional towns, rural properties, and some suburban fringe areas.

How Do I Know If My Premises Is on Fixed Wireless?

The technology type at any address is determined entirely by NBN Co based on location. Pickle cannot change the technology type assigned to a premises.

  • Contact Pickle — the team can confirm your technology type and connection details

  • Look at the building — a Fixed Wireless premises will typically have a small antenna or dish mounted on the roof or exterior wall; this equipment belongs to NBN Co

Coverage

Fixed Wireless coverage is determined by NBN Co's tower infrastructure. Not every regional or rural address will be eligible — coverage depends on proximity to a tower and signal reach.

Factors that affect coverage:

  • Distance from the tower — the further from the tower, the weaker the potential signal

  • Terrain — hills, valleys, and ridgelines can block signal reach

  • Vegetation — dense tree cover between the premises and the tower can reduce signal quality

  • Local geography — flat, open areas tend to have better coverage than heavily undulating land

Contact Pickle to check whether Fixed Wireless is available at your address.

Performance and Limitations

Fixed Wireless delivers reliable everyday broadband for most uses — but it has inherent characteristics that differ from fibre-based connections.

Weather sensitivity

Heavy rain, dense cloud, or severe storms can temporarily affect signal quality and cause speed reductions or brief dropouts. This is a normal characteristic of radio-based transmission and not a provider fault. Performance typically returns to normal once conditions clear.

Shared tower capacity

Each tower serves multiple premises. During peak usage periods — typically weekday evenings — speeds may be lower due to shared capacity. This is a network-level factor outside Pickle's direct control.

Line of sight

The antenna requires a reasonably clear line of sight to the tower. Over time, new buildings, growing trees, or new nearby structures can gradually degrade performance. If speeds have declined with no other explanation, a new obstruction may be contributing.

Speed caps

Fixed Wireless plans have maximum speed tiers lower than those available on FTTP. NBN 100 and above are generally not available on Fixed Wireless. If high-speed symmetrical connections are required, check whether any fibre options are available or planned at the address.

Speed Tiers Available on Fixed Wireless

  • NBN 25 — 25 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload — suitable for light usage, email, and web browsing

  • NBN 50 — 50 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload — standard tier suitable for most small business use

  • NBN 75 — 75 Mbps download / 25 Mbps upload — higher tier where available at the tower level

Contact Pickle to discuss whether an upgrade is available at your address.

Equipment — Who Owns What

NBN Co owns and maintains:

  • The outdoor antenna on or near the building

  • The NTD inside the building

The customer owns and is responsible for:

  • The router or modem

  • Any additional network equipment — Wi-Fi access points, switches, internal ethernet cabling

If the antenna or NTD is damaged or faulty, do not attempt to repair or adjust the equipment. Contact Pickle to log a fault — Pickle will escalate to NBN Co for repair.

Troubleshooting Poor Performance

Work through the following steps before contacting Pickle:

  1. Check the NTD status lights — if showing a fault or alarm, contact Pickle directly

  2. Restart the router and NTD — power off the router first, then the NTD; wait 60 seconds; power the NTD back on first, wait for it to reconnect, then power the router on; retest

  3. Test with a wired connection — connect a laptop directly to the router via ethernet and run a speed test at speedtest.net; Wi-Fi performance varies and can mask the true connection speed

  4. Check the weather — if the issue coincides with heavy rain or storms, atmospheric interference is the likely cause; monitor whether performance improves once conditions clear

  5. Contact Pickle — if speeds are consistently below plan allowance during normal weather conditions, contact Pickle to investigate and escalate to NBN Co if required

Faults and Outages

Fixed Wireless outages can be caused by:

  • Tower equipment faults

  • Power outages affecting the tower

  • Severe weather damaging tower infrastructure

Pickle monitors NBN network status and will communicate known outages and estimated restoration times where information is available.

To report a fault:

  • Portal — 24/7

  • Email — [email protected]

  • Phone — 1300 688 588 (business hours)

  • After-hours phone available for clients with an extended hours agreement

Upgrading From Fixed Wireless

NBN Co periodically expands fibre infrastructure into areas currently served by Fixed Wireless. If FTTP or another fibre technology becomes available at the address, an upgrade may be eligible.

These upgrades are subject to NBN Co's rollout schedule — Pickle cannot accelerate or guarantee timing. Contact Pickle to check current upgrade status or register interest.

Key Takeaways

  • Fixed Wireless delivers internet via radio signal from an NBN tower — not cables

  • Technology type is set by NBN Co and cannot be changed by Pickle

  • Performance can be temporarily affected by heavy weather — this is normal, not a fault

  • Speed tiers top out at NBN 75 on most Fixed Wireless connections

  • The outdoor antenna and NTD belong to NBN Co — do not attempt to repair them

  • Always test speeds via a wired ethernet connection for an accurate result

  • For persistent non-weather-related issues, contact Pickle — Pickle will investigate and escalate to NBN Co if needed

Contact Pickle

  • Portal: Pickle Customer Portal — 24/7

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Phone: 1300 688 588 (business hours)

  • After hours: Available for clients with an extended hours agreement

Pickle

Office 12, 7-9 Churchill Ave, Strathfield NSW 2135