Start with Ofcom’s property-level broadband checker, then ask a provider to confirm what can be ordered and when it can be activated; the checker’s availability and speeds are predictions. Fixed broadband is a sensible starting point if its installation date works for your move. Otherwise, check local 4G/5G coverage for a home hub or temporary mobile router, and consider satellite if terrestrial options do not meet your needs and the address has a suitable installation position.
If fixed broadband will not be active in time, check mobile coverage at the new address and the delivery or activation date of a temporary connection. Ofcom advises checking broadband and mobile coverage before moving.
Compare what can actually be ordered at the address before considering fixed wireless or satellite. A mobile connection depends on local coverage; Starlink says its residential service varies by address and needs a clear view of the sky.
Consider simultaneous work calls, streaming, gaming and wired devices when comparing predicted download and upload speeds and the equipment supplied with a service. Check the exact hub’s connections rather than assuming every provider device has the same features.
Choose when: A provider confirms service at the property and an activation date that suits your move.
Allow for: A start date or installation visit that may fall after moving day.
Choose when: Fixed service is delayed or unsuitable and the chosen mobile network covers the address.
Allow for: Results that vary with local signal, hub position and the number of users.
Consider when: Fixed-line and fixed-wireless options do not meet the property’s needs.
Allow for: Address-specific plan availability and a dish position with a clear sky view, as Starlink specifies for its residential service.
Choose when: You need a short-term connection while the main service is being activated.
Allow for: Coverage and performance at the new property, even if the device works well elsewhere.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Property availability and speed | Use Ofcom’s checker for predicted download and upload speeds, then confirm the chosen service is orderable at the address. | If I need to know which connection I can actually order, an area-level prediction is not enough. Around 33% of consumers put property-specific availability first. |
| Connection by moving day | Confirm the fixed-service start date and check local 4G/5G coverage and device delivery timing for a temporary option. | When I need internet as soon as I move in, waiting for an installation may change my choice. Roughly 27% of consumers make immediate connectivity their primary concern. |
| Household capacity and router fit | Compare simultaneous-use needs with the exact hub’s connections; confirm compatibility before buying a separate router. | If work calls and other devices will run at the same time, I need to assess both the service and its equipment. Around 20% of consumers prioritise household capacity and router fit. |
| Fallback for a poorly served property | Check fixed-line and fixed-wireless options before confirming satellite availability and a clear-sky installation position. | Where the usual connection routes will not meet my needs, I need an alternative that works at the property. About 20% of consumers put that fallback decision first. |
Ofcom says actual availability and received speeds can differ at an individual property, including where fixed-wireless coverage is predicted.
Use the checker to narrow your options, then ask the intended provider to confirm the order and installation arrangements for the address.
A mobile connection that works elsewhere may perform differently inside the new home. Local coverage, hub placement, users and plan conditions matter.
Check the chosen network at the address and test the hub in a suitable position within any applicable return period.
Starlink says its equipment needs a clear view of the sky for uninterrupted service; an obstructed roof, garden or balcony position may not be suitable.
Assess the proposed position before arranging a permanent mount, and seek permission if installation would alter a rented or managed property.
An obstructed position may call for different mounting equipment or installation work.
A router cannot make an unavailable connection available, and customer-owned equipment requirements vary by service and provider.
Ask the provider whether your exact router can be used and what connection settings it requires before purchasing it.
You may still need to keep the provider’s router in use.
EE offers home mobile-broadband hubs and portable mobile Wi-Fi devices.
Three offers 4G/5G home broadband using fixed wireless access, with indoor and outdoor hub options.
Starlink offers a residential satellite-broadband route for a fixed household location.
Use Ofcom’s checker to compare broadband availability and predicted download and upload speeds for the new location, then confirm with a provider that it can supply the property. Ofcom cautions that predicted availability and speeds can differ from the service actually received.
Yes, if the chosen network offers suitable coverage at the property and its activation timing works for you. EE and Three describe home hubs that do not need a fixed-line engineer visit, but local signal, hub position, simultaneous users and plan conditions still matter.
Consider satellite after checking whether fixed-line or fixed-wireless service can meet your needs. For Starlink residential service, confirm plan availability at the exact address and a dish position with a clear view of the sky.
Check with the chosen provider before buying a router: compatibility depends on the service technology and the connection settings it requires. A separate router does not replace the need for an available, activated connection.