4G and 5G mobile broadband and wi-fi dongles explained

If you're struggling to get a reliable fixed broadband connection in the home, an 'over the air' alternative comes in the form of a wi-fi dongle that can deliver 4G and 5G mobile broadband.

With a reliable 4G or 5G signal, you'll be able to use one of these devices to access the internet on all your home devices. Read on to find out how they work. 

Check our guide to the best and worst mobile networks to see how providers are rated for network reliability, value for money and more. 

How does mobile broadband work?

Instead of using telephone lines, 4G and 5G broadband routers use the same signal as your smartphone to access the internet. As such, it can be an ideal solution for those who struggle to get a good signal from their traditional ADSL/Cable internet service provider (ISP).

Where 5G coverage is available, it's possible to get an even faster connection via mobile broadband, though this is still less widespread than 4G.

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What is a wi-fi dongle?

A wi-fi dongle is a simple USB device that provides this wireless internet connection for individual devices, such as your home laptop or computer. It works in a similar way to a 4G or 5G router, to effectively deliver mobile broadband as an alternative to a fixed connection.

How much does a wi-fi dongle or router cost?

While 4G and 5G broadband used to be more expensive than standard fixed-line broadband, prices have become far more competitive in recent years, and unlimited data plans are more common.

You could pay as little as around £10 per month, but this will likely be for a limited amount of data. Expect to pay around £20 a month for unlimited data. 

If you do pick a plan with a data cap, be wary of how much you're using. With high charges for going over your data allowance, it's important to be aware of how much data common online activities use. The table below provides some examples:

How can you access mobile broadband at home?

For most people, there are three ways to access mobile broadband in your home:

• By 'tethering' your smartphone - This setting essentially turns your smartphone into a wi-fi hotspot, allowing a small number of connected devices to quickly connect to the internet. Most mobile providers will allow you to tether as much data as your plan allows for, though some may have a separate (lower) data limit for tethering so it's worth double checking the terms of your contract. Our guide on how to set up a mobile wi-fi hotspot can help you get started. 
• By using a mobile broadband 'dongle' - This is a small 4G- or 5G-enabled device which connects to your devices via USB or wi-fi to get you connected. This can usually allow more traffic than tethering.
• By using a dedicated router - providers such as Three and EE have dedicated routers capable of handling many more devices and traffic than tethering or dongles can.

Our mobile phone coverage map will give you more information about 4G and 5G coverage in your local area.

Which mobile networks offer wi-fi dongles and mobile broadband?

Each of the 'big four' mobile networks - EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, offer 4G and 5G mobile broadband. This may be via a wi-fi dongle, or a home router.

Contract lengths vary from one month up to two years, and data limits can run as low as just a few gigabytes, so it's important to choose a service that best fits your needs.

How fast is 5G mobile broadband?

For those who want a quicker connection, and have strong 5G coverage in their area, 5G will almost always be preferable to 4G, even if it's a little more expensive.

The speed of 5G mobile broadband connections vary, but Three claims an average download speed of 150Mbps for its 5G Home Broadband product - faster than most standard fibre packages. This would be more than suitable for larger homes where many devices are connected to and using the internet at the same time.

While 5G is now available in far more areas of the UK, if you're not currently covered by the new superfast standard, 4G mobile broadband could still be a good alternative.

How fast is 4G mobile broadband?

With 4G, download speeds are comparable to, or a little faster than standard fixed-line broadband. According to OpenSignal data, the 'Big Four' (EE, O2, Three and Vodafone) were able to achieve an average speed of 21.33Mbps, which is faster than many ADSL (aka standard) broadband products. 4G broadband is very unlikely to reach the speeds that fibre broadband can reach, with some fibre providers offering up to 1,000Mbps (1Gbps) for your home - but it should be sufficient to comfortably stream or download content with a strong enough signal.

Average 4G speeds in the UK compared

_{*Based on Openreach speed data.}

Also, the speed you will get from your 4G broadband is dependent on many other factors, including how far you are from a mobile phone mast and how strong the signal is. If you experience patchy mobile phone service at home, then it is likely that you will experience similar issues with 4G broadband, affecting the speeds you can achieve.

Find out how fast your connection is using our Broadband Speed Checker tool.

Is mobile broadband right for me?

Mobile broadband has become far more appealing now that prices have dropped and 5G is becoming more widespread.

Perhaps the biggest advantage is its ability to deliver a reliable internet connection to areas of the country that struggle with a consistent fixed-line connection – either due to a lack of availability, poor speeds, or a limited range of (often expensive) providers. In this situation, a mobile broadband connection through a 4G or 5G router or wi-fi dongle could be the ideal alternative.

If you do have a good range of available fixed line providers for your property, however, the simple answer is to shop around, weigh up your options, and choose a provider that offers the best value for money. Use Which Broadband Compare to get started.

Crucially, you'll also want a good service. Read our mobile network provider reviews and guide to the best and worst broadband providers to find out which come out on top.