is a communication protocol essential for long-range point-to-multipoint (PtMP) fixed wireless deployments with directional antennas. It divides the available spectrum into discrete time slots, assigning these slots to individual clients for transmitting or receiving data. This ensures that only one device communicates at a time within its assigned slot, eliminating collisions and improving network efficiency. For WISP operators, TDMA is especially beneficial in point-to-multipoint deployments where many subscribers share the same spectrum. By scheduling transmissions, TDMA reduces latency, increases throughput, and ensures fair resource allocation among clients, even in high-density environments. It also simplifies synchronization across sectors, enabling operators to scale networks effectively while maintaining reliable and consistent service.

is a communication method where the uplink (data from subscriber to access point) and downlink (data from access point to subscriber) share the same frequency channel but transmit at different times, using synchronized time slots. For WISP operators, TDD is essential for setting subscriber download and upload speeds, efficiently managing spectrum in fixed wireless networks, particularly in point-to-multipoint deployments. Synchronizing TDD cycles across multiple sectors using GPS synchronization reduces interference and improves performance, especially in co-located or overlapping coverage areas. Additionally, TDD allows operators to dynamically allocate uplink and downlink bandwidth based on traffic demand, optimizing capacity for asymmetric usage patterns common in broadband services, such as heavy downlink usage for video streaming.

is a crucial technology for WISP operators that allows multiple access points in a network to transmit and receive data in a coordinated manner by synchronizing their time slots using GPS signals. This is especially beneficial in Time Division Duplexing (TDD) deployments, where uplink and downlink cycles need to align across sectors to avoid self-interference. By ensuring that all access points in the same area operate on the same schedule, GPS sync minimizes co-channel interference and maximizes spectral efficiency, enabling closer frequency reuse and improved performance in dense deployments. For WISP operators, this means better network reliability, more efficient use of available spectrum, and the ability to scale operations without degrading service quality.

is a wireless technology that allows an access point to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, rather than one at a time as in single-user MIMO. In Wi-Fi 6, MU-MIMO works in both uplink and downlink directions, enabling more efficient use of available spectrum. For WISP operators, this is critical in improving network performance in high-density deployments by serving multiple subscribers concurrently, reducing airtime contention, and increasing overall throughput. By supporting multiple spatial streams to different clients, MU-MIMO optimizes bandwidth allocation, minimizes latency, and enhances the scalability of wireless networks, making it a valuable tool for delivering reliable service in sectors with growing subscriber demands.

is a key Wi-Fi 6 feature that allows multiple users to share the same channel simultaneously by dividing it into smaller subchannels called Resource Units (RUs). Unlike previous Wi-Fi technologies that served one device at a time per channel, OFDMA enables the access point to allocate different RUs to multiple clients based on their data needs, optimizing airtime usage and reducing latency. For WISP operators, this means more efficient handling of client traffic, especially in high-density sectors or environments with mixed usage patterns (e.g., streaming, browsing, and IoT). By maximizing channel efficiency, OFDMA improves overall throughput, reduces congestion, and enhances the customer experience in fixed wireless deployments.

is a Wi-Fi 6 feature that enhances spectrum efficiency by allowing partial use of a channel when parts of it are experiencing interference. In traditional Wi-Fi, if interference affects any part of a channel (e.g., from a neighboring network or external noise), the entire channel might be rendered unusable. With preamble puncturing, Wi-Fi devices can detect and 'puncture' the interfered subchannels, using only the clean portions of the channel for data transmission. For WISP operators, this is particularly valuable in crowded spectrum environments or where interference is localized, as it enables the network to maintain higher throughput and utilize available spectrum more effectively, ensuring better service reliability for customers.

in Wi-Fi 6 is a critical feature for improving network performance in dense deployment scenarios where co-channel interference is a challenge. It assigns a unique 'color' (identifier) to each Basic Service Set (BSS), allowing client devices to distinguish between their own network’s transmissions and those from neighboring networks operating on the same channel. This enables devices to ignore or coexist with low-power signals from other BSSs, reducing unnecessary backoff and improving channel utilization. For WISP operators, this means more efficient spectrum use, better throughput, and improved reliability in environments with overlapping coverage, such as multi-dwelling units or sectors with high subscriber density.