Who needs these options?

Households needing a primary connection

If fixed-line broadband cannot meet the household’s needs, the immediate choice is which alternative a provider can actually supply at the property.

Renters and households avoiding a fixed-line installation

A plug-in home hub may appeal when arranging a fixed-line installation is difficult. Check the address-specific service offer, contract and equipment-return terms before relying on it.

Remote homes considering satellite or external equipment

Where terrestrial service is inadequate, the decision also depends on feasible equipment placement and any permission required from an owner, landlord or relevant authority.

What should you check before choosing?

Check address-level availability first, then compare only the routes a provider can supply. Ofcom cautions that predicted availability and speeds can differ from service and speeds at the property.

4G or 5G home hub

Consider it when: A mobile operator can supply a hub at your address and indoor coverage is usable, particularly if you want to avoid a fixed-line installation.

Allow for: Coverage and received speeds can differ between operators and properties, so a 5G-capable hub alone does not establish a usable 5G connection.

Local fixed wireless access

Consider it when: A fixed wireless provider serves the address and confirms that the property qualifies for installation.

Allow for: Ofcom’s predicted availability does not guarantee that a provider can install service or deliver the predicted speed at your home.

Satellite broadband

Consider it when: Fixed-line and local fixed wireless options are inadequate and the satellite provider can serve the address.

Allow for: The required equipment must have a feasible placement, and external installation may depend on property permissions.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Service at the property Use Ofcom’s broadband and mobile checkers, then ask shortlisted providers to qualify the exact address. If I cannot rely on my fixed line, I need to know which alternative I can actually order before choosing equipment. Roughly 36% of consumers put property-level service feasibility first.
Mobile signal and home use Compare operators’ predicted indoor coverage and confirm whether the address is offered 4G or 5G home service. When a mobile hub would be my main connection, I need a suitable network and hardware for the household’s devices. Around 29% of consumers prioritise mobile service and household use.
Placement and permission Check whether external equipment can be placed safely and whether owner, landlord or applicable local permissions are needed. If a dish or antenna would have to go outside my home, I need to establish that its placement is possible and permitted. About 21% of consumers put that question first.
Contract and returns Read the offer’s term, cancellation conditions, equipment ownership and return requirements. When I cannot judge a connection until I try it at home, I need to understand my commitment and what happens to the kit if I cancel. Roughly 14% of consumers prioritise those terms.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Treating a coverage prediction as a guarantee

    Ofcom says actual availability or received speeds at a property may differ from checker predictions.

    Use the results to shortlist providers, then complete each provider’s address check before committing to service or equipment.

  • Ordering external equipment before checking permission

    A dish or antenna may need property consent or another applicable approval. Planning Portal advises checking planning, listed-building and owner or landlord requirements for antennas in England.

    Confirm the requirements for your property and location before ordering. For a mobile repeater, check the exact device against Ofcom’s applicable technical requirements.

  • Overlooking the terms attached to a service trial

    Contract options and equipment-return duties differ by provider and offer. Three’s home-broadband guidance, for example, says a supplied 5G hub remains Three’s property and must be returned when the customer leaves.

    Read the current terms for the exact service, including cancellation and the condition and deadline for returning equipment.

  • Choosing a portable hotspot for a primary home connection

    A portable device and a home hub are intended for different patterns of use; the right choice depends on how many devices will share the connection and where Wi-Fi is needed.

    Check the proposed device’s intended use and household Wi-Fi requirements alongside the underlying mobile service.

Relevant brands to consider

EE

EE offers 4G and 5G home-broadband hubs as alternatives to a fixed-line connection.

  • EE describes its home hubs as plug-in devices that do not require a fixed line.
  • EE advises checking coverage where you live; an advertised plan does not establish which service will work indoors at your address.

Three

Three offers 4G and 5G home-broadband plans, with an outdoor-hub route for some customers.

  • Three describes its plug-in home-broadband service as not requiring a landline or engineer visit.
  • Check the address-specific offer and current terms, including coverage, the contract and any duty to return the hub.

Starlink

Starlink provides low-Earth-orbit satellite broadband, a route to consider where suitable terrestrial service is unavailable.

  • Ofcom identifies Starlink service in selected UK areas as an option for many premises lacking decent fixed-line or fixed wireless access.
  • Confirm service eligibility, workable equipment placement, relevant permissions and the terms for the particular kit and service offer.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

Can I choose a broadband service from a postcode result alone?

No. Ofcom’s checker helps you identify predicted options, but actual availability and received speeds may differ at the property. Ask the provider to confirm service for your exact address before ordering.

When does 4G make more sense than 5G home broadband?

Consider 4G when the provider can supply it at your address but usable 5G coverage is unavailable. EE notes that a 4G device may be more appropriate where there is no local 5G service; check indoor coverage and the provider’s address-specific offer rather than choosing by the hub’s label.

Will I need permission for a satellite dish or external antenna?

That depends on the property and where it is located. Planning Portal guidance for England advises checking planning permission, listed-building consent and owner or landlord permission before obtaining an antenna; flats may also face building-wide limits. Check the applicable local process and your property agreement rather than assuming the same rules apply throughout the UK.

Can any mobile signal repeater improve my home broadband?

No. Ofcom says repeaters work best when there is a good outdoor signal to boost indoors, and a device must meet the applicable technical requirements. Confirm both the available signal and the exact device’s compliance before considering one.

What return terms matter when trying satellite broadband?

Check whether the kit is bought directly, rented or supplied through another seller, because the applicable process can differ. Starlink states a 30-day return period for eligible directly purchased kit and separate return duties for rented kit after cancellation; read the current terms for your particular offer before ordering.