Heard about 4G Home and want to know more?
Here’s a quick rundown of everything you need to know about 4G broadband. We understand that choosing the right internet provider can sometimes be complicated and stressful. So, we’re here to make it simple for you.
What exactly is 4G broadband?
To put it simply, 4G broadband uses mobile phone signals to access the internet instead of traditional cables and telephone lines. 4G is the fourth generation of mobile technology, an upgrade from 2G and 3G which are outdated, slower networks.
So, you might be wondering… how’s 4G Home broadband different from 4G mobile? Firstly, you will have your own router which contains more powerful hardware than a mobile. Also 4G broadband can provide internet to several devices – up to 80 devices in fact! One final key difference is that 4G broadband also generally has much higher, more generous data caps compared to mobile broadband. What this means is you have no or little limits with your data usage.
You might also be wondering… is 4G broadband available in my area? 4G broadband is widely available and is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Currently, approximately 99% of all UK homes and businesses are within range of the service. But it’s important you make sure you’re definitely within range – simply enter your postcode into a broadband coverage checker. Now let’s have a look at some of the benefits in more detail.
The benefits
Portability
Firstly, 4G Home is fully portable. This is a big selling point for those who travel and require a stable internet connection. We all know that hotel Wi-Fi can be a nightmare so 4G broadband can make your life a lot easier if you’re always on-the-go. All you need to do is unplug the router at home and plug it back in when you arrive at your new location. All you’ll need is the router and an electrical supply.
Portability is a big selling point which sets 4G broadband apart from the fixed-line broadbands. Cable, ADSL and Fibre are all examples of fixed-line broadbands. They supply connections to your home using traditional cables. However, this means they are more restrictive as you can’t bring the internet with you outside of the home. 4G Home is more flexible in this way.
Do you like to travel around the UK on holiday? If so, a 4G portable router might be a great option for you. You can take it with you to your second home, your caravan or your boathouse. Not only this, if you’re moving to a new house, you’ll be more than thankful for your portable router. You won’t need to worry about changing your broadband as you can take your router with you to your new home and simply plug it in.
Speed
We all want a superfast, responsive internet connection. If you have multiple devices to connect and a family of internet-addicts, you’ll want consistent internet speeds in all rooms of the house. 4G Home speeds are more than ideal for your daily internet needs, including streaming, gaming, browsing and watching TV.
4G broadband speeds are comparable to that of Fibre and deliver much faster speeds than some other fixed-line broadbands, including ADSL and Satellite. The average speed for 4G broadband stands at approximately 31 Mb/s, compared to 24 Mb/s for ADSL. This is considerably higher and more suitable for most users.
If you have fixed-line broadband, the distance of your property to a telephone exchange point may influence your internet speeds. This is not the same for 4G. With 4G Home, your signal may affect your internet connection. However, there is a solution to this. You can have an external antenna installed on your property to boost your signal strength for better speeds. This antenna picks up outdoor 4G signal and sends it to your home router. However, most of the time there is no need to have an antenna fitted as the router itself does the job well. It can sometimes be tricky to know what is classed as a fast internet speed or what the right speed for your individual needs is. So, read our 4G Speed Tests blog to learn more.
Cost-effective
Value for money is important. There are so many different pay-monthly plans available to browse and compare. So, whether you’re on a budget or you’re willing to pay that bit extra, there’s a suitable plan out there to fit your internet-needs.
Firstly, when you’re comparing deals think about how many devices will be connecting to the internet and how much data you typically use. For instance, do you have kids? Teenagers are typically big social media users and will also need the internet for streaming, gaming and watching TV on their laptops and tablets. Look out for unlimited broadband deals with ‘no caps’ if you rely on the internet at home a lot. Luckily, 4G Home offers unlimited broadband options, meaning you and your family will have no download limits. This is another selling point making 4G Home broadband good value for money.
But is 4G broadband more expensive than fixed-line broadbands? Not necessarily. It depends on a few factors. For example, it may depend on where you live and whether the internet provider owns the lines or not. Also, with fixed-line broadband there are often lots of add-ons which bump the cost up too. Whereas, 4G packages come with everything you’ll need and without the need to buy extras.
Most importantly, 4G broadband can help you to reduce your overall spending costs and cut out some bills. You can get broadband everywhere and you’ll only have one contract to pay. For instance, with 4G broadband you can have one contract for both your home and your mobile plan.
4G broadband packages are also generally more flexible. There are usually more options for contract lengths and costs, whereas fixed-line broadband plans are typically fixed 12-month contracts.
Some fixed-line broadbands, including Satellite can be quite expensive. Like 4G, Satellite broadband doesn’t require traditional cables to supply your internet connection. So, how are they different? Satellite broadband requires a satellite dish and transmitter attached to your home. It is more on the pricey side despite the fact there are download limits and it is quite prone to lagging and weather interferences. So, if you’re looking for a landline-free broadband with all the additional benefits, 4G broadband may be better value for money than Satellite.
Many 4G Home plans also offer 24-hour remote support services as well as free anti-virus. This gives you that little bit extra so you can browse, stream and game online securely. Look out for these offers to get even more value for your money. The bottom line is that 4G broadband isn’t as expensive as you might think, and it comes with everything you’ll need all in one package.
Availability
Some fixed-line broadbands are not available in certain remote, rural locations. Are you living in the countryside and feel like you’re miles away from a consistent, stable internet connection? Does your unreliable broadband make you feel like packing up and moving to the city? Don’t pack up just yet as there may be a solution you don’t know about. For instance, maybe you have Cable or ADSL broadband and you want to upgrade to Fibre broadband, but you live in an area where Fibre isn’t available. This is where 4G comes in. As we mentioned, 4G coverage is on the up and its performance is comparable to that of Fibre. So, 4G broadband could be your solution here.
Reliability
Finally, finding a reliable internet provider is also key. Once you’ve looked into which broadband options are available to you, you’ll want to find a reliable internet provider. ADSL broadband is typically considered less reliable than Fibre. This is due to the increased likelihood of disconnections due to the less durable copper wires. Copper wires are not very hard-wearing, meaning bad weather can sometimes interfere with connections. Whereas, Fibre broadband is more resistant as fibre-optic cables are more able to withstand wear and damage.
As 4G uses phone signals rather than cables, the weather is much less likely to interfere with your connections. If you’re working from home during COVID-19, you won’t want frustrating disconnections and interferences slowing you down. 4G home broadband may be your answer.
Summary
To conclude, we have shown that the benefits of wireless internet are pretty extensive. As a result, 4G Home certainly comes with its perks – excellent performance, high data caps and wide availability. It’s certainly ideal for the average user. We’ve also compared 4G Home broadband with fixed-line broadbands in terms of performance, value for money and reliability. Overall, 4G is a compelling alternative as it’s on similar grounds to Fibre and considerably better value than ADSL and Satellite broadband. However, the best plan for you is dependent on your individual requirements and what suits you, your home and your lifestyle.