BT Hybrid Connect: Is it unbreakable broadband?

Dan Howdle • October 10th, 2024

If you have ever experienced the frustration of your broadband connection dropping out in the middle of a film, while gaming, or during a Zoom call, you’ll be pleased to know that a solution is available in the form of BT Hybrid Connect. This widget provides a seamless 4G backup system, via EE's mobile network, ensuring that you stay connected if and when your broadband fails.

Hybrid Connect integrates with your existing BT Smart Hub 2. It automatically switches to EE’s 4G network if your main BT broadband connection drops, keeping you online until your service is restored. In this guide, we take a closer look at how to get BT Hybrid Connect, its value, and what alternatives exist for ensuring an uninterrupted broadband connection.

What is BT Hybrid Connect?

BT Hybrid Connect offers a reliable backup internet connection by pairing a BT Smart Hub 2 with a Hybrid Connect device that uses EE's 4G network to maintain connectivity if your broadband drops out. Advertised as 'Unbreakable Wi-Fi', BT Hybrid Connect ensures that, short of there being a complete power failure knocking out the nearest masts too, you will always have an internet connection.

The Hybrid Connect is a sleek, black, oval-shaped device, similar in size to the BT Smart Hub 2. Ideally, it should be connected to your router via an Ethernet cable and requires a separate power supply. If Ethernet is not available, the Hybrid Connect will connect wirelessly to the Smart Hub 2 when it needs to.

In the event that your BT broadband connection goes down, the Hybrid Connect will automatically switch to the EE 4G network, providing download speeds that depend on your local signal strength, but typically offer sufficient speed to keep you online until your broadband connection is restored. Once your broadband is back up, the Smart Hub 2 will automatically take over the connection again.

Reasons to buy

BT Hybrid Connect does ensure you never lose your broadband connection – ideal for home workers and anyone who relies on a constant internet connection. However, keep in mind that speeds on the 4G backup network may reach a maximum of 30Mbps for downloads and 5Mbps for uploads, which might not fully support high-demand activities under all conditions.

EE provides a reliable signal

The EE 4G network has a good reputation for speed, reliability, and coverage, making it an ideal network for a broadband backup service. While it covers 99% of the UK, BT estimates that around 85% of its customers have sufficient 4G signal strength to use Hybrid Connect effectively.

Can be positioned anywhere

Although the Hybrid Connect ideally needs to be connected to the Smart Hub 2 via an Ethernet cable for best performance, you can move it around your house to pick up the best EE signal if necessary. It will function better when directly connected to your router, but if you get a stronger signal upstairs rather than downstairs, for example, you can still move it, and it will provide a 4G backup when needed, although performance may be slightly reduced.

Combine with BT Complete Wi-Fi

Customers looking for both a reliable Wi-Fi signal around their house and the reassurance of unbreakable connectivity can choose to sign up to BT Halo 3+. This package includes Hybrid Connect to keep you online, as well as BT Complete Wi-Fi, which guarantees a minimum Wi-Fi speed of 10Mbps in every room of your house using a mesh network setup.

Affordable monthly fee

BT Hybrid Connect can be added relatively cheaply whether you are a new customer or an existing one. Existing customers with the original Smart Hub will need to upgrade to the Smart Hub 2, which may mean upgrading your BT Broadband package as a whole.

Reasons to avoid

Although BT Hybrid Connect promotes 'Unbreakable Wi-Fi' as its unique selling point, it reflects the reality that even fibre broadband connections can experience occasional outages. With the increasing availability of Full Fibre connections, broadband that drops in and out for extended periods is about 60% less common than it used to be, but Hybrid Connect provides a valuable safety net for those who cannot afford any interruption.

Takes a while to switch over from broadband

It’s worth noting that although the 4G connection will automatically kick in if your broadband does drop out, the transition is not instantaneous. The switch-over typically takes around 2-3 minutes to stabilise on the 4G network, which means you may experience a brief dropout if you're in the middle of streaming TV, making a Zoom call, or gaming. This can be disruptive.

Cannot stream broadband TV channels

Another downside is that if you have a TV service that relies on your broadband connection, such as Sky Stream or EE TV, your Hybrid Connect will not fully support these during a 4G switchover.

Slower than your home broadband

If you're used to a fast Full Fibre speed, you may find that your devices start to struggle due to the slower speed offered by EE 4G. The speeds on Hybrid Connect can reach up to 30Mbps for downloads and 5Mbps for uploads, but this is the maximum, and actual speeds can be lower depending on local signal strength and network congestion. Although this is generally sufficient for everyday tasks like browsing and streaming, it may not support a large number of devices or multiple video streams simultaneously.

A second router

The BT Hybrid Connect device is roughly the same size as the Smart Hub 2. While this isn't a problem in itself, it does mean more equipment cluttering up your home. In comparison, the smaller dongle offered by Vodafone Pro II Broadband packages is more compact and plugs directly into the router, making it less obtrusive than the Hybrid Connect.

Alternatives

BT isn’t the only broadband provider to offer a 4G backup system to its customers. Virgin Media, now operating in partnership with O2, still offers its 'Back-up Hub' – a 4G router powered by O2's network. Vodafone now offers its updated Vodafone Pro II Broadband service, which includes a 4G dongle that plugs into your router, and EE broadband provides its 'Smart WiFi' service that includes the 4GEE WiFi Mini device, with 250GB of data offered during broadband outages.

Sky broadband currently offers a 4G backup service exclusively for business users, although they are considering expanding this option to residential customers in the future.

Buy a separate 4G home broadband deal

There are other options if you feel that you need a 4G backup system for your home broadband and don’t want BT Hybrid Connect. Most mobile networks now offer customers a 4G or even 5G home broadband service, where you pay a monthly fee for your data (up to unlimited data options are available), and you are supplied with a 4G/5G router to provide a Wi-Fi signal. The market for these deals has become more competitive, with many 5G options now offering higher speeds and better coverage, which can make them a viable alternative to fixed broadband in areas with strong signals.

Compare mobile broadband

Taking out your own 4G/5G home broadband service will also mean you will have to manually switch the service over in the event of your broadband service dropping out.

Buy a 4G/5G Mi-Fi unit

Another alternative is to get a 4G/5G Mi-Fi device from a mobile provider. These portable routers allows you to create a Wi-Fi signal wherever you are. While it will support a limited number of devices and offer speeds similar to Hybrid Connect on a 4G network, a strong 5G signal can deliver very decent speeds. Although this way of doing things is likely to be more expensive than Hybrid Connect, the potential for higher speeds with 5G may make this a more suitable way of doing things for some.

Compare MiFi deals

Use your mobile’s data to stay online

Finally, you can use your mobile data to stay online by tethering specific devices to it. This is a practical solution if you only need to keep a laptop or tablet connected, but it's not a viable option for supporting a whole household of people and devices – the range and device limi is just not there. However, with the rise of unlimited 5G data plans, tethering can now be a more cost-effective and reliable alternative for those in areas with good 5G coverage, also making it a feasible backup solution.