However, increasingly there are full-featured designs that offer all the features you’d expect from a traditional ADSL or fibre optic router – but only use a mobile connection rather than a fixed line. Until now, such devices have been somewhat niche due to the speed limitations of 4G service, but the arrival of 5G changes all that. Why wait for your supplier to bring a full fibre optic connection to your home when you can simply insert a SIM card and get speeds of up to 500Mbits/sec.
How much data can you get?
4G and 5G mobile services usually have data usage caps, which range from 50GB to 300GB. This is enough for work, browsing, and music streaming, but if you spend a lot of time watching streaming services or downloading PC or console games, you’ll need to look for an unlimited package. These are becoming more widely available than before, but they come at a higher price and sometimes longer contract periods.
What’s the router like?
Take a close look at the router that comes in your package. 4G and 5G home routers have more features than before, some with two or more Gigabit Ethernet ports and 802.11ax Wi-Fi. However, 4G service may come with a less-featured router, and routers designed primarily for mobile use may prioritize compact size and battery life over connectivity options.
Will I receive adequate compensation?
4G
Ofcom’s latest survey of UK mobile and broadband connectivity reports that 95% of all premises in the UK should have access to broadband through fixed wireless access services, including satellite and mobile broadband.
However, most of these services are based on 4G signals, and the fastest 4G+ or LTE-A services, exceeding 40Mbits/sec, still tend to be available only in larger cities. Moreover, just because you can get a decent 4G signal in your neighborhood doesn’t guarantee that a provider will offer fixed wireless access service in your area. Even if they do, it’s worth checking the coverage and comparing the expected speeds in your location before signing a contract.
5G
5G coverage is improving but still quite uneven. EE has the largest 5G network, currently covering over 60% of the UK population, spanning over 1,000 sites across the UK. This includes major towns and cities as well as 500 rural and semi-rural areas. Other major networks are catching up; Three also claims to currently cover over 60% of the UK population with over 600 sites, and its proposed merger with Vodafone should see the combined network reach even further.
But remember that not everyone in a 5G area will be able to receive a stable 5G signal, and just because your phone has a signal outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean that 5G broadband service is available in the area, or that you’ll be able to get a stable, high-speed signal at home.
How to Test Mobile Broadband
Our mobile broadband reviews are based on research we conducted specifically for our own annual Mobile Network Awards, as well as customer service, coverage and performance reviews by Ofcom and RootMetrics.
The Mobile Network Awards survey asked around 4,400 UK readers about their satisfaction with their current provider and the reliability of their 4G or 5G connection while watching videos, browsing the internet or streaming. It also asked readers more detailed questions about their experience with 5G services to uncover any benefits or problems they are experiencing.
Meanwhile, Ofcom’s ‘Comparing customer service: mobile, fixed and home broadband’ report provides details of customer satisfaction with the service, value and support of each UK network, including data such as the number of complaints and how they are handled.
Finally, RootMetrics conducts extensive performance testing across the UK to obtain performance and coverage figures, including more specific 4G and 5G performance tests in 16 major UK cities, with results updated twice a year.
We take all these results into consideration before coming to a conclusion about the best service in terms of performance, reliability and overall value for money.
