5G broadband for the home: How it works and best deals available

Households have been relying on their internet connection more than ever due to the pandemic with faster speeds now in demand.

While there are a range of fast full fibre broadband options available, others are turning to 5G networks instead.

Although 5G still has limited coverage with just 21 per cent of the country able to access it, this is growing.

This is Money takes a look at where 5G can be found, how it compares to standard broadband and the best deals currently available.

5G broadband is an option for many households with speeds faster than standard connections

What is 5G broadband?

Most people will think of 5G in relation to their mobile phones and the strength of internet they receive when out and about.

Whilst 5G is for phones, it can also be used at home for your internet, combining mobile broadband and the latest mobile technology.

It is much faster than standard broadband – although not as quick as fibre speeds.

Matt Powell, editor at Broadband Genie, said: ‘The UK 5G average speed is 167Mbps. In comparison, an ADSL (broadband connection over telephone lines) would give you around 10Mbps and it is 35Mbps for an entry level fibre package.

‘Only a full fibre connection would be able to match the speed and would have a higher ceiling of potentially reaching gigabit capable speeds.’

Where is it available?

5G broadband is only available where a provider’s 5G network is as it’s the same 5G network that is used for smartphones.

Whilst coverage is growing, it’s still primarily available in urban areas and cities – rural areas are in scope but have less 5G coverage right now.

Each provider will have their own mobile network coverage map, which will show you how strong the 5G connections are in each area.

Currently, 5G coverage in the UK is at 21 per cent but that is a combination of all the networks.

EE currently has the best coverage in the UK at 17.9 per cent while O2 only covers 5.4 per cent of the UK so it limits options where you can use the package.

Most major city centres will have access to at least one provider and a mobile broadband signal checker will be able to tell you if the postcode has access to 5G and by which providers.

Can you use 5G broadband on devices other than a mobile?

Technically, customers could tether their 5G phone to devices in their home in order to connect it to the internet, but it can become very impractical with multiple devices and it would use up mobile data allowances very quickly.

A 5G broadband hub, on the other hand, acts just like a router. 

It would need a separate 5G plan that you would have to pay for, but this way multiple devices can connect to it all at once and you won’t risk paying for using too much mobile data on your phone. 

Whilst 5G is now available mostly only in cities, the rollout will continue across the country

Would 5G be the best choice for you?

Whether 5G is best for you depends on where you live, experts say.  

Dan Howdle, of Cable, said: ‘Whether or not 5G home broadband is the right choice for you will come down to where you live. 5G can be faster than many home broadband connections, provided you have a clear and strong 5G signal.

‘At this time, however, locations where 5G signal is strong are mostly in large urban centres – towns and cities – as opposed to where it is most needed: In rural and remote parts of the country where fixed line connections can be poor.

‘In most towns and cities a fixed line connection is usually where people will look first, not least because they tend to be somewhat cheaper.’

What do you need to set 5G up?

There are a couple of facts consumers need to consider before setting up their 5G broadband.  

Powell said: ‘For any 5G contract, we would recommend getting an unlimited plan.

‘This will allow you to use the plan as much as you want without having to worry about reaching any data limits and paying a hefty penalty fee if you go over your monthly allowance.

‘If you intend to use mobile broadband as your main broadband connection, you should look to get at least a Wi-Fi dongle, but preferably a hub or router. 

‘This will provide networking features useful to home use, and wired network ports.

‘Using a tethered smartphone is not really a long-term solution. Smartphones are not geared toward running a home network in the same way as a hub or router, and mobile plans may have fair use restrictions.’

Some people who have used smartphones with a 5G internet connection to power their home internet have also found their devices get hot very quickly which is not good for the phone or user.  

What are the best deals?

This is Money, with the help of Broadband Choices, has put together some of the best deals available. 

Three has the best value 5G plan at £0 up front and £30 per month with unlimited data. Customers can enjoy average speeds of 100Mb on a 24 month contract. 

It offers the same deal but with a Nest Audio system on a 12 month contract for £32 a month. 

Vodafone also offer 5G broadband deals with its R219 Mobile Wi-Fi Unlimited Max deal giving users average speeds of 150Mb on a 12 month contract for £33 a month. 

For those not looking to be tied into a long term deal, it has its R219 Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot Unlimited Max offering with speeds of 150Mb a month for £37 a month.

Customers will also have to pay £35 in set up costs.   

Meanwhile, the price for a fixed line connection on an entry level deal through Virgin Media is £38 with a £35 setup fee and a deal through the Openreach network with BT is £27 a month.

Find the best, fastest and cheapest broadband deals now

This is Money has partnered with Broadband Choices to offer readers the best and cheapest deals on their broadband, mobile and TV deals. 

For exclusive offers and the fastest broadband deals check out this week’s specials now. 

 

>> Compare broadband, TV and phone offers

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk