The challenge of delivering broadband connectivity in the last mile continues to limit the spread of high- speed data access. Solutions such as ADSL rely on an existing copper connection, while more powerful techniques, such as fibre, depend on the deployment of costly new infrastructure. As a result, they may not be economic for many areas, both urban and rural, due to the cost of deploying infrastructure.

Alternatives based on forms of cellular or radio access have been considered for some time.
In the 1990s, fixed wireless access was used to deliver telephony and basic rate ISDN services to households in the UK, for example, with similar projects enjoying some success in other countries, but the technology was soon superseded by other approaches.