Choosing the right carrier or placement for a wireless WAN device depends heavily on signal strength, which can vary by location and even be affected by building materials. LTE has used frequencies between 600 MHz and 2.7 GHz for over a decade, but with 5G, new bands like C-Band and mmWave are being introduced.
Higher frequency waves (like mmWave) have more difficulty passing through obstacles such as trees or buildings. A strong signal depends on two key metrics: RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), which measures how well the device hears the signal, and SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio), which measures signal clarity relative to noise. Better SINR enables higher-level data modulation, which leads to greater throughput. In short: the stronger and cleaner the signal, the faster the data speeds.