Setting up your home broadband requires you to make some important choices, from the supplier you prefer to the kind of network connection you’ll use.
While fibre broadband is still the most popular internet connection, improvements in 5G and mobile internet technology make it a great alternative.
What is 5G broadband?
‘5G broadband’ refers to a home internet connection that uses a SIM card and 5G mobile signal to get online.
5G routers allow your laptop, PC, phone, smart TV or any other device to get online, just like any other Wi-Fi router.
Unlike traditional home broadband, 5G routers connect to the UK mobile network. Users can get online as soon as their equipment is delivered, rather than waiting for an engineer to connect them to the network.
Users are also not limited by the network infrastructure installed in their area, or whether there is space in a local cabinet. Instead, 5G broadband performance is determined by the strength of the mobile signal inside your property.
With a strong 5G mobile signal, 5G routers offer Ultrafast internet speeds of 150-200 Mbps on average.
How fast is your internet? Take a speed test to find out
What is fibre broadband?
Fibre broadband connections are used in the majority of UK homes. The term refers to fibre-optic cables, which connect local cabinet boxes to the wider internet.
Homes can be connected to these cabinets via standard copper cables, offering superfast speeds of up to 70 Mbps. In other properties, high-speed fibre optic cables come all the way into the home, offering ultrafast speeds of between 150 and 900 Mbps.
Wired broadband provides a usually stable network connection with consistent speeds. However, the speeds depend on the infrastructure surrounding the property. Some addresses have multiple local providers offering high-speed internet, while others can only access superfast fibre connections.
Even worse, where there are no local fibre broadband providers, or the local fibre cabinet has no space for a new connection, homes are not able to get fibre broadband at all.
Which is better, 5G or fibre?
The answer to 5G vs fibre broadband will depend on how you use the internet, as well as which networks are available in your area.
If your home only has standard speed (pre-fibre) internet available, a 5G router is your best option for a modern, high-speed connection.
This is also true if you need speeds above 70 Mbps, including those working from home or with multiple users, but are limited to superfast cables.
The very busiest internet users, whether they’re video calling, working in remote environments or living in a smart home full of gadgets, opt for a 5G router alongside their fibre broadband connection. Splitting their web traffic between two networks means more bandwidth for every device.
Looking for a 5G broadband connection?
If you’re looking for a 5G broadband setup for your new home, get in touch with us and we will send you a personalised quote based on the best available networks in your area.
