Compare 4G 5G Home Broadband Deals

Traditional ADSL broadband is delivered to your home through the fixed telephone cable. Even if you refrain from using your home phone for calls, a monthly fee is still applied for utilising the landline cable to access your home broadband. In contrast, 4G & 5G home broadband offers a hassle-free, plug-and-play solution, eliminating the need for a landline and any engineer visits. Within minutes of receiving your router, your broadband can be up and running seamlessly. Upon subscribing to a 4G/5G home broadband plan, you'll receive a router similar to the one used for traditional home broadband. Simply insert the supplied SIM card, connect the power supply, and you're ready to enjoy high-speed connectivity.

Under ideal conditions and with optimal antenna positioning, theoretical speeds of 300Mbps download and 50Mbps upload can be achieved with 4G-LTE Advanced. However, in reality, such speeds are highly unlikely. The average UK user typically experiences a download connection speed of 25Mbps and upload speeds of 7.5Mbps—similar to a standard non-fibre broadband connection.

This becomes particularly significant for customers in rural areas, where 4G Internet can offer a notable improvement over traditional fixed-line broadband. To enhance reliability and speed, especially in areas with weak 4G signals, we recommend installing an external aerial. Companies such as '4G Internet' specialise in supplying and professionally fitting external 4G aerials.

If you're confident about your local transmitter's location, you can install your own aerial. However, it's advisable to use a directional aerial for higher gain, but only if you know the precise location of your local mast. Broadbandbuyer offers a diverse range of 4G & 5G aerials.

To assess the mobile broadband coverage in your area, Ofcom's mobile broadband coverage checker is a useful tool. It compares 4G signals from major providers like O2, EE, Vodafone, and Three, providing a general overview of the service in your area.

In September 2023, Opensignal released a study revealing that the average 5G download speed in the UK is 124Mbps, accompanied by an average 5G upload speed of 14.5Mbps. These figures, based on a comprehensive comparison of data from the four major UK network providers—Three, EE, O2, and Vodafone—underscore the urgent need for the UK to make significant strides in maximising its 5G potential. For context, consider the impressive 5G download speeds achieved globally: South Korea leads with 432.5Mbps, followed by Singapore at 376.8Mbps, India at 301.6Mbps, and Norway at 244.9Mbps. These international benchmarks emphasise the gap between the UK's current 5G performance and the capabilities demonstrated by leading nations. Clearly, there is an opportunity for the UK to enhance its 5G infrastructure and move closer to the forefront of high-speed 5G connectivity.

Option 1: 4G Mobile tethering

Tethering is a quick and simple solution to sharing your mobile phone’s broadband connection. Other devices can share your data allowance by using your phone to create a WiFi hotspot. This solution is usually adequate for travelling, camping or ad hoc sharing. The Wi-Fi signal range will not be as powerful as a home router, so it’s unlikely to penetrate adjacent rooms.

Option 2: Mobile broadband device

Typically known as a ‘Mi-Fi’ or ‘Dongle’, these devices are usually a similar size to a small mobile phone and powered by either an internal battery or via USB. The device will create a Wi-Fi network, generally allowing up to 64 devices to connect simultaneously. The Wi-Fi range can be limited as they aren’t as powerful as a standard home broadband router.

Option 3: 4G / 5G Sim enabled device

Some tablet devices, e.g. Apple iPads, have sim card slots and can connect directly to the internet without needing additional hardware or a Wi-Fi connection. A pre-loaded sim card is the most cost-effective solution. For more regular use, you may wish to consider a sim-only contract.

Option 4: 4G/5G Home broadband solution

With this option, a sim is placed in a 4G / 5G enabled router, enabling up to 64 devices to connect to the broadband simultaneously. 4G / 5G home broadband is a growing trend driven by the increasing availability of unlimited data plans. 4G home broadband is particularly popular in rural areas where 4G broadband can be faster and more reliable than a standard broadband connection. One of the main benefits of this option is the absence of line rental fees. Sim contracts vary in data allowances and can be from 1-24 months in duration. For regular use, we would recommend an unlimited tariff. Compare 4G 5G broadband

Mobile broadband could be the answer if you're moving home or need a temporary broadband solution. Filter the 4G 5G home broadband options above to compare one-month contracts.

One-month rolling contracts are typically more expensive per month, but you will only need to give 30 days notice if you decide to end your contract. Short-term broadband contracts usually incur a larger set-up fee. This one-off fee is typically to cover the cost of the router, which you can keep after your contract ends. If you already have a 4G / 5G router and only require ad hoc usage, purchasing a prepaid SIM card may be more cost-effective. A prepaid 'data-only' SIM card will give you a fixed amount of data without incurring a monthly fee. Prepaid SIM card data is typically valid for 12 - 24 months, although some value plan options may limit this to 90 days. Vodafone and Three have some of the best rates for pre-paid mobile data.