4G home broadband guide
Though now superseded by 5G in places it's available, 4G broadband remains in places where it isn't, and comes in a number of different forms: data to your mobile, personal hotspot mobile broadband devices, and these days you can even get 4G (and indeed 5G) broadband for your home. Each of these types has a different application and you'll need to know what it is you intend to do with it if you're to select the right one.
Lucky for you, you're in exactly the right place to help you first to understand what sort of 4G broadband you need, and then how to pick the right deal.
What is 4G broadband?
4G simply stands for fourth generation. If you count 1G as mobile phones using only voice calling, 2G adds texting, and 3G adds internet access, 4G is the generation that added speed. So, 'fast' internet access via a mobile network, essentially. 5G is just all that on steroids, with even greater data speeds.
In terms of 4G broadband, you can access it in a number of different ways. There are four main types. All involve a SIM card set up with a specific network. They are:
- 4G home broadband – This is the newest of the three concepts. This is where your traditional home broadband router is replaced with a router that connects to the internet via a 4G/5G SIM (these tend to be the same SIMs and will simply connect to the best speed you can get). A number of UK providers now offer this, and it can be a good solution if you live somewhere with terrible fixed-line internet, but a good, strong 4G signal
- 4G mobile broadband – This is where you have a MiFi device or dongle that you can take anywhere with you. These are small devices – pocket-sized or smaller – and will either plug directly into a laptop and provide 4G internet (dongle) or allow you to wirelessly connect multiple devices over wifi (MiFi device)
- 4G broadband tethering – This is where you turn your mobile phone into a wifi hotspot, allowing other devices to connect the same as over wifi. Tethering used to be heavily restricted, but these days it's easy to find deals with unlimited tethering up to your data limit
- 4G direct to your mobile phone or tablet – If you want to access 4G broadband, the quickest, simplest and most direct way is to fire up your phone or SIM-equipped tablet and away you go. For the rest of this guide, we're going to focus away from this method, as we reckon you're here for a different sort of solution
Do I need 4G broadband?
Take a look at the different types of 4G broadband above. Does one of these technologies sound like it solves your problem? Chances are one of them does. But there are some downsides to 4G broadband you may want to consider before cancelling your home broadband connection and relying on it entirely.
Just like fixed-line home broadband, 4G broadband isn't the same everywhere. Some places it's fast, others it's slow, there's everything in between, and of course there are still a lot of homes around the UK where a 4G signal won't be strong enough indoors to rely on 100% of the time.
Then there's the fact that while fixed-line broadband speeds continue to get faster, 4G has already topped out, with the best average speeds not offering much over standard ADSL (non-fibre) broadband. If you want to go quicker over the airwaves you're going to have to plump for 5G broadband and depending where you live you may be waiting a long time for that. Here are the three reasons you might consider 4G broadband.
- You can get it – Before even thinking of taking out a 4G home broadband deal, you'll want to check whether the signal is strong enough where you live and work from your chosen provider. If you're unsure, ask your neighbours and colleagues which network they are on and how their signal holds up, and of course check the providers’ signal maps for further clues
- Your home broadband is terrible – For packages including a 4G home broadband router, this will be the number one reason to sign up. If you're unlucky enough to get awful broadband via a traditional fixed line, perhaps you're lucky enough to get a strong 4G signal
- You have a special application in mind – Perhaps you need back-up broadband for your existing connections for your home or business, or you conduct your business meetings in a farmer's field. Ultimately only you know why you might need 4G broadband
4G broadband coverage and data speeds
There are actually only four mobile networks in the UK that will afford you a 4G data signal. These are known as MNOs or Mobile Network Operators, because they own and run their own separate networks, including masts, cabling, data centres and everything else. All other providers are known as MVNOs of Mobile 'Virtual' Network Operators. Virtual because although classed as their own network, they rent capacity from one of the four MNOs. This is often called 'piggybacking'.
These four networks are: Three, Vodafone, EE and O2. All of them provide 4G home broadband, MiFi devices, dongles, and of course mobile phone and data SIMs. In addition there are one or two providers that also dabble in multiple 4G broadband solutions – see the 'providers' section further down. Here are the four MNOs and how they compare on speed and coverage, from fastest to slowest. All four providers offer over 99% UK coverage by population.
EE 4G broadband
According to Opensignal, 4G download speeds on the EE network average 39Mbps. This puts EE's 4G speeds verging on what is offered by entry-level fibre broadband packages. It is the fastest of the four MNO providers.
Vodafone 4G broadband
According to Opensignal, 4G download speeds on the Vodafone network average 21Mbps. This puts Vodafone's 4G speeds verging a little faster than the best ADSL can offer, but around 10Mbps below the average you might expect with an entry-level fibre broadband deal. It is the second-fastest of the four MNO providers.
Three 4G broadband
According to Opensignal, 4G download speeds on the Three network average 19.3Mbps. This puts Three's 4G speeds around the top end of what you would expect to get from an ADSL broadband package. It is the third-fastest of the four MNO providers.
Which providers offer 4G broadband?
Sticking to providers who offer an expanded range of 4G broadband products – not just 4G SIMs, but also MiFi, dongles and/or home 4G broadband – the list is actually relatively short. Here's who they are and a brief description of what they offer.
4G broadband checklist: What you need
What you need will depend on the type of 4G broadband that is best suited to your purposes.
- A compatible mobile phone – If you're just planning to tether other devices to your mobile, using your mobile as a wifi router, then almost any deal will do. Just bear in mind that you may need more data than if you were just using the mobile on its own
- A 4G home router – If you take out a 4G home broadband deal with a 4G wifi router for the home from Three, say, you will get the router you need in the package when you take it out. The same applies with any other provider – if you take out the deal, you'll get the router
- A 4G MiFi device or dongle – If it's 4G mobile broadband your after in this particular guise, you're going to need a MiFi device or a dongle. This usually isn’t provided for free – you’ll have to buy it yourself upfront. We're not entirely certain why this differs from the free router you can expect from every other type of broadband but hey, we don't make the rules!
- A strong 4G signal where you live and work – Please do check before signing up that your chosen network's signal isn't merely present where you live and work, but strong. A weak 4G signal can play havoc with reliability. If in doubt, ask neighbours and colleagues as well as checking the provider's availability map
