Fixed broadband xDSL and FWA (wireless)

xDSL and FWA are two kinds of fixed internet connection used in Czechia where there is no fibre. xDSL (such as ADSL or VDSL) uses copper telephone lines; this also includes the variant where fibre runs to a street cabinet and the last section to the house remains copper. FWA (fixed wireless access) is a fixed wireless connection: the house has an antenna or router that links to the provider's transmitter. The Czech Telecommunication Office (ČTÚ) distinguishes FWA over the LTE mobile network and FWA in licensed and licence-free frequency bands (typically WiFi networks of local providers).

How ČTÚ presents the data

Every year ČTÚ collects data from providers on so-called available connections at individual addresses, as of 31 December, and shows them in the Fixed services module of its VPortal. For each address it lists the technology and speed band: 2, 10, 30, 100, 300 and 1,000 Mbit/s. It distinguishes the effective speed, which can normally be expected even at peak times, from the maximum achievable speed, which can only be reached for some of the time.

What to watch out for

• With xDSL the speed falls with the length of the copper line, so the distance from the street cabinet or exchange matters.
• With FWA the actual speed depends on the signal quality between antenna and transmitter and on network load.
• The data are as of 31 December; the offer may have changed since.
• The connection is reported by the network operator; other providers may sell internet over it.

Mobile connectivity is a separate matter, described by 4G and 5G coverage. If fibre is available at the address, it is usually the faster and more stable choice; see fibre internet.

Frequently asked questions

Is xDSL or FWA enough for working from home?

It depends on the speed band at the address and on what the household needs. A good guide is to measure the actual speed with the ČTÚ-NetTest tool during the viewing and compare it with providers' offers for the address.

What does FTTCab mean?

It stands for fibre to the cabinet. From the street cabinet to the house runs a copper line carrying xDSL. The shorter this copper section, the higher the speed that can usually be achieved.

Where will I come across this figure?

The technology and speed band at the address are among the inputs from which the location analysis and the Location Check describe connectivity at the site.