Compare fixed-line services available at the individual address first, using the provider’s speed information to judge whether an offer suits the household. If fixed broadband is unavailable or unsuitable, investigate an eligible indoor 4G/5G hub or outdoor fixed-wireless setup; consider satellite where terrestrial routes are not workable and the property has a suitable clear-sky installation location.
Check whether an indoor 4G/5G hub, outdoor fixed-wireless service or satellite connection is available at your property before choosing equipment or a plan. A general coverage result cannot establish how well a particular installation will work.
If several people work, study, stream or play games online at once, compare the fixed-line speed information offered for your address with the conditions affecting mobile broadband. EE notes that mobile-router performance depends on placement, the number of users and the plan.
An outdoor hub, antenna or dish may require a mounting position, cable route and permission to alter the property. Establish what can be installed before relying on that route.
Use Ofcom’s postcode checker as a starting point, then confirm the offer for the individual property with each provider. External Wi-Fi equipment can distribute a connection once it is installed, but it cannot replace the connection itself.
Consider it when: A provider offers a suitable fixed-line service and personalised speed information for your address.
Check: Whether the property needs new equipment or an engineer visit, and what speed information applies to the offer.
Consider it when: The provider accepts your address for home broadband and a plug-in setup suits your needs.
Check: Indoor placement and the exact plan; EE says location, user numbers and plan affect performance.
Consider it when: A provider offers an outdoor unit for your address and the proposed installation is feasible.
Check: Mounting, cable routing and any permissions before committing to an external unit.
Consider it when: Terrestrial routes are not workable and the property has a suitable clear-sky location.
Check: Address eligibility, mounting and property permissions. Starlink says its app can help identify a clear-sky location.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Address availability and performance | Confirm each provider’s offer for the property; compare personalised fixed-line speed information where available. | If services offered nearby differ from those at my home, I need to establish what I can order and what performance is indicated before choosing hardware. Around 36% of consumers put that address-level question first. |
| Installation and permission | Confirm whether an outdoor unit is required, where it could be mounted and whether property or local consent applies. | Where an external unit would alter my property, I need to know whether it can be installed with the necessary permission. For around 29% of consumers, installation feasibility is the primary concern. |
| Data and contract terms | Read the exact plan’s data policy, minimum term, equipment conditions and exit terms. | If my household uses a lot of data, I want a plan whose allowance and commitment fit that use. Those terms come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Setup and flexibility | Check address eligibility and activation arrangements; assess an indoor hub’s placement before ending an existing service. | When I need a connection soon, avoiding a fixed-line installation wait matters, provided the mobile service works at home. Rapid setup is the leading need for around 14% of consumers. |
A retail router cannot make a fixed-line service available or make an ineligible home-broadband plan orderable.
Confirm the connection route and address eligibility first, then check whether replacement hardware is compatible with the provider’s service and supplied equipment.
A phone’s reception in one room does not establish how an entire household will experience a mobile-broadband hub. EE identifies router location, user numbers and plan as performance factors.
Check the provider’s home-broadband eligibility for the address and assess the hub in its recommended position before ending an existing workable connection.
An outdoor hub, antenna or dish may need a suitable mounting position, cable routing and permission to alter the property.
Plan the proposed location before ordering. Obtain landlord or owner approval where relevant, and check with the local planning authority if consent is uncertain.
Mounting and cabling can also require installation work or later reinstatement.
These are reference points for comparing connection routes, not a substitute for checking the offer at your address.
A fixed-network option to examine where its address checker shows service at the property.
A 4G/5G home-broadband option with indoor hubs and an Outdoor Hub, subject to address eligibility.
A mobile-network home-router option to compare where its coverage and plan suit the address.
A residential satellite option to investigate when terrestrial connections are unsuitable and an installation location is available.
Use the full address whenever a provider’s checker allows it. Availability, eligible plans and offered speeds can differ between properties in the same postcode, so confirm the orderable service with each provider before choosing equipment.
Yes, permission may be needed for an external installation. UK government guidance advises checking whether planning permission, listed-building consent or landlord or owner permission applies before installing an antenna; establish the requirements for the proposed equipment and property before ordering.
An indoor mobile-broadband hub can be plug-in, but that does not guarantee suitable service at your address. Confirm home-broadband eligibility and consider placement, household use and the plan; an outdoor fixed-wireless unit may instead require installation and permission.
Starlink says all its Residential plans include unlimited data, but availability can vary by address. Check the current Residential offer and applicable terms for your property; the statement does not cover every satellite provider or other types of plan.