4G Broadband Explained: 4G Speeds and Best Deals
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There aren’t many households in the UK that can cope without Internet access. However, in some areas, it’s just not possible to receive a high-speed, fixed-line broadband connection. Thankfully, with 4G mobile networks being so widely available, it’s easier than ever to get online anywhere. And you can do this without relying on your phone’s mobile hotspot, as many network providers now offer dedicated 4G broadband devices for your home. These 4G broadband solutions can simply connect to a mobile network to act as a 4G router. This means you can connect your laptop, tablet, or games console to the Internet – just like you would with a standard broadband connection.
Last updated in: November 2022
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain how 4G broadband works, what speeds it offers, and whether it’s a viable alternative to standard home Wi-Fi. We’ll also share the best 4G broadband deals from EE, Vodafone, Three, and O2.

What is 4G broadband?
4G broadband refers to an Internet connection which uses a 4G mobile network, rather than a fixed-line connection. As they work wirelessly, 4G broadband routers are portable, allowing you to connect to get online anywhere with a 4G signal.
How does 4G broadband work?
4G home broadband routers work by connecting to a 4G signal – just like a smartphone does. Your router receives a signal which is broadcast by nearby mobile masts, and this is how it connects to a 4G network.
Subsequently, your 4G home broadband router picks up this signal, allowing you to connect your devices to your 4G home network. This is the same way you’d connect to a fixed-line network (e.g. fibre broadband) but without any cables between the router and its connection source.
What is the difference between home broadband and mobile broadband?
The key difference between home broadband and mobile broadband is the means of connecting to the Internet.
With mobile broadband, your router connects to a mobile network wirelessly by using a SIM card. It picks up a signal that’s broadcast from a mast. This is unlike traditional home broadband, where copper or fibre cables connect directly into a home broadband router to provide Internet access.
How fast is 4G broadband?
The average 4G broadband speed in the UK is between 20 to 30 megabits per second (Mbps). This is fast enough to comfortably support more bandwidth-intensive online activities, such as attending video conferences or streaming films in HD.
It’s important to note that 4G broadband speeds can vary depending on your location. Living rurally, or at least far away from the nearest 4G mast, can result in slower speeds. Your choice of provider and even the building materials in your house (e.g. concrete or metal) can also negatively affect your speeds.
Compare 4G broadband deals
To ensure you secure the perfect deal for your usage and budget, we’ve compiled the best and cheapest 4G broadband deals available.
Which providers offer 4G broadband?
In the UK, you can choose from four major providers of 4G broadband deals. These are EE, Vodafone, Three, and O2.
EE 4G broadband
Here is EE’s range of 4G home broadband deals:
Deal | Monthly cost of cheapest deal | One-off cost | Total cost | Monthly data allowances and prices of other plans | Contract length | Equipment included | Average download speed | Monthly data limit for cheapest plan | Power source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4GEE Wi-Fi Mini 2020 | £13 | – | £312 | One-month plans (£40 upfront fee):
24-month plans:
|
24 months | MiFi device | 40Mbps | 4GB | Rechargeable battery |
BT 4G Home Hub with EE SIM | £25 | – | £450 | One-month plans (£100 upfront fee):
18-month plans:
|
18 months | 4G hub | 15-30Mbps (maximum speed) | 100GB | Mains |
4GEE Home Router 3 | £35 | – | £630 | One-month plans (£100 upfront fee):
18-month plans:
|
18 months | 4G hub | 30Mbps | 100GB | Mains |
Vodafone 4G broadband
These are the 4G broadband deals currently available from Vodafone:
Deal | Monthly cost of cheapest deal | One-off cost | Total cost | Monthly data allowances and prices of other plans | Contract length | Equipment included | Average download speed | Monthly data limit for cheapest plan | Power source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4G Mobile Hotspot | £15 | – | £360 | One-month plans (£10 upfront fee or £20 for 4GB plan):
12-month plans:
24-month plans: 24-month plans (£50 upfront fee or £100 for £100GB plan): |
24 months | MiFi hotspot | Up to 150Mbps | Unlimited | Rechargeable battery |
GigaCube | £30 | £100 | £820 | 24 months | 4G hub | Up to 300Mbps | 100GB | Mains | One-month plans (£325 upfront fee):
|
Three 4G broadband
Here are Three’s 4G broadband plans:
Deal | Monthly cost of cheapest deal | One-off cost | Total cost | Monthly data allowances and prices of other plans | Contract length | Equipment included | Average download speed | Monthly data limit for cheapest plan | Power source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4G Home Broadband Hub | £16 | – | £384 | One-month plan (£29 upfront fee):
|
24 months | 4G hub | 50-100Mbps | Unlimited | Mains |
4G Plus Home Broadband Hub | £19 | – | £456 | 12-month plan:
|
24 months | 4G hub | 50-100Mbps | Unlimited | Mains |
O2 4G broadband
O2 allows customers to choose from two portable MiFi devices:
Deal | Monthly cost of cheapest deal | One-off cost | Total cost | Monthly data allowances and prices of other plans | Contract length | Equipment included | Average download speed | Monthly data limit for cheapest plan | Power source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcatel Pocket Hotspot 4G | £24 | – | £576 | 24-month plans:
|
24 months | MiFi device | 8-10Mbps* | 50GB | Rechargeable battery |
Huawei 4G Pocket Hotspot 2020 | £15.38 | – | £369.12 | 24-month plans:
|
24 months | MiFi device | 8-10Mbps* | 15GB | Rechargeable battery |
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Best 4G broadband deals
Here are the 4G best mobile broadband deals available at the moment.
Provider | Deal | Monthly cost of cheapest deal | One-off cost | Total cost | Monthly data allowances and prices of other plans | Contract length | Equipment included | Average download speed | Monthly data limit for cheapest plan | Power source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vodafone | 4G Mobile Hotspot | £15 | – | £360 | One-month plans (£10 upfront fee or £20 for 4GB plan):
12-month plans:
24-month plans: |
24 months | MiFi hotspot | Up to 150Mbps | Unlimited | Rechargeable battery |
Three | Home Broadband Hub | £16 | – | £384 | One-month plan (£29 upfront fee):
12-month plan:
|
24 months | 4G hub | 50-100Mbps | Unlimited | Mains |
EE | BT 4G Home Hub with EE SIM | £25 | – | £450 | One-month plans (£100 upfront fee):
18-month plans:
|
18 months | 4G hub | 15-30Mbps (maximum speed) | 100GB | Mains |
Cheapest 4G broadband deals
These are the cheapest 4G broadband deals currently available from the major network providers:
Provider | Deal | Monthly cost of cheapest deal | One-off cost | Total cost | Monthly data allowances and prices of other plans | Contract length | Equipment included | Average download speed | Monthly data limit for cheapest plan | Power source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EE | 4GEE Wi-Fi Mini 2020 | £13 | – | £312 | One-month plans (£40 upfront fee):
24-month plans:
|
24 months | MiFi device | 40Mbps | 4GB | Rechargeable battery |
Vodafone | 4G Mobile Hotspot | £15 | – | £360 | One-month plans (£10 upfront fee or £20 for 4GB plan):
12-month plans:
24-month plans:
|
24 months | MiFi hotspot | Up to 150Mbps | Unlimited | Rechargeable battery |
O2 | Huawei 4G Pocket Hotspot 2020 | £15.38 | – | £369.12 | 24-month plans:
|
24 months | MiFi device | 8-10Mbps* | 15GB | Rechargeable battery |
Unlimited 4G broadband deals
Provider | Deal | Monthly cost of cheapest deal | One-off cost | Total cost | Monthly data allowances and prices of other plans | Contract length | Equipment included | Average download speed | Monthly data limit for cheapest plan | Power source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vodafone | 4G Mobile Hotspot | £15 | – | £360 | One-month plans (£10 upfront fee or £20 for 4GB plan):
12-month plans:
24-month plans:
|
24 months | MiFi hotspot | Up to 150Mbps | Unlimited | Rechargeable battery |
Three | Home Broadband Hub | £16 | – | £384 | One-month plan (£29 upfront fee):
|
24 months | 4G hub | 50-100Mbps | Unlimited | Mains |
Three | 4G Plus Home Broadband Hub | £19 | – | £456 | 12-month plan:
|
24 months | 4G hub | 50-100Mbps | Unlimited | Mains |
If you’re looking to enjoy 4G home broadband without any data limits, these are the best deals for you:
*Where exact download speeds have not been specified, 8-10Mbps is included to reflect the overall average download speeds expected of 4G broadband.
Is 4G broadband any good?
4G broadband involves a different approach to Internet access and home, as it doesn’t rely on cables. The use of 4G technology presents a range of benefits for customers – but it’s important to consider the downsides too.
Who is 4G broadband right for?
4G broadband may not offer the highest Internet speeds on the market, but it can be ideal for customers with certain needs.
If these factors apply to your household and circumstances, it’s worth considering a 4G home broadband deal:
- You use the Internet lightly or occasionally.
- Your household is small.
- You live rurally and can’t access fibre broadband.
- Due to moving or living between homes, you need portable Wi-Fi.
- 30-day contracts would suit you best.
However, if you need fast speeds for online gaming or HD streaming, you’ll likely find that fibre broadband will offer a faster, more reliable connection. There also won’t be any download limits to consider when you’ve got a fixed-line connection (although unlimited 4G broadband deals are available).
What is 4G broadband coverage like in the UK?
Overall, 4G mobile networks are widely accessible across the UK. This means that 4G broadband coverage is strong – but the extent of 4G availability can vary between providers.
The table shows the percentage of 4G coverage between the major broadband providers:
Provider | Percentage of the UK population with 4G broadband coverage |
---|---|
EE 4G broadband | 99% |
Vodafone 4G broadband | 99% |
Three 4G broadband | 99.8% |
O2 4G broadband | 99% |
BT 4G broadband | 99% |
There isn’t much variety in the extent of coverage offered by 4G broadband providers. However, Three is believed to offer the widest coverage in the UK currently – although by a small margin. Unless you live very rurally, it’s likely that 4G broadband deals will be available to you from at least one of these providers.
You can check the availability of 4G broadband across networks using Ofcom’s checker.
What are the pros and cons of 4G broadband?
Before signing up to a 4G broadband deal, make sure you’ve considered all the benefits and downsides of having a 4G home broadband connection.
Here are the pros of a 4G home broadband plan:
Pros | Explanation |
---|---|
Portability | Unlike standard broadband routers, 4G hubs don’t need a fixed-line connection. This means they’re very portable – although home broadband hubs usually need to be plugged into the mains. |
Internet access rurally | If you’re unable to access a fixed-line home broadband connection in your area, 4G broadband offers a solution. It connects to a wireless 4G network to get your devices online. |
Flexibility and less commitment | 4G broadband deals often include shorter contracts, including 30-day plans. This is ideal if you’re put off by contracts lasting 12 months or longer, as you won’t face expensive early cancellation fees. |
No line rental fees | 4G broadband hubs don’t need to be connected to phone lines – so you can get Internet access without paying for a phone service. |
Decent speeds | Although you can get better speeds from a 5G router or full fibre broadband, 4G speeds should suffice for the average Internet user. |
However, these 4G broadband plans also involve some cons to be aware of:
Cons | Explanation |
---|---|
Download limits | 4G broadband deals often come with a limited amount of data each month. Staying within these limits is hard for those who use the Internet intensively – and exceeding these limits can involve extra charges. |
Fixed-line Internet is often cheaper | Most 4G broadband deals cost more than a fixed-line deal, including many fibre broadband plans. These fixed-line contracts often offer better speeds and unlimited downloads – and you’d pay less for them. |
Less reliability than standard broadband | 4G speeds can suffer as signal strength can vary due to obstacles, bad weather, or increased network traffic. This means your connection could be inconsistent at times. |
No option to bundle with TV or phone services | Unlike standard broadband deals, you can’t receive 4G broadband bundles including TV or phone services. A fixed-line broadband, TV, and phone package cost less than paying for each service separately. |
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FAQ
🏠 Can 4G replace home broadband?
By design, 4G home broadband plans serve as a replacement for fixed-line broadband. Although 4G speeds can beat that of a basic asymmetric digital subscriber line and rival some fibre broadband speeds, 4G broadband plans aren’t ideal for every household. They can suffice for smaller households or light Internet users – but large households may struggle with 4G home broadband’s limitations.
📶 Can I get 4G broadband if I have bad signal?
Yes. 4G broadband routers can usually connect to a 4G network – even if your phone can’t access 4G mobile data in your area. It’s also worth noting that if your indoor signal is poor, your provider may offer an external antenna that connects to your 4G hub. This can enhance your signal considerably.
❓ Will 4G make home broadband obsolete?
4G broadband can be a viable option under some circumstances, but it can’t replace fixed-line broadband connections. Currently, 4G broadband can’t beat the speeds and reliability of many existing fibre broadband packages – especially with full fibre broadband becoming more widely available.
🌐 Where is 5G broadband available?
Although 5G technology isn’t currently available everywhere, network operators are expanding their 5G networks across the UK. Some of them already offer 5G broadband hubs, including EE and Three – but these devices can only offer 5G speeds if 5G is available locally. You can check the indoor and outdoor availability of 5G near you with Ofcom’s checker.
Updated on 14 Oct, 2022
kathryn
Broadband Specialist & Copywriter