Start with your address, not a coverage map: Ofcom warns that predicted fixed-wireless coverage may not translate into service at an individual property. Consider fixed wireless or 4G/5G home broadband if a provider can supply the address and you can assess the connection where it will be used. If neither offers a usable option, check whether satellite installation is practical and request a broadband Universal Service Obligation assessment in parallel.
If the existing fixed-line connection cannot support ordinary household use, check whether a provider can supply fixed wireless or home broadband at the property. A positive coverage prediction alone is not confirmation: Ofcom says local conditions can prevent service at a particular premises.
Where a usable fixed-line or fixed-wireless service cannot be confirmed, satellite siting and a Universal Service Obligation eligibility assessment are worth considering alongside any available mobile home-broadband offer.
Before switching, compare the actual order terms for cancellation, equipment ownership and returns. Three, for example, says its 5G Home Broadband hub remains its property and must be returned after cancellation.
Check whether each service can be ordered for the property, then assess household use and installation before committing. Fixed wireless may use a mobile or dedicated wireless network; a Universal Service Obligation assessment is a separate route to pursue if the address may qualify.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Service at the address | Use Ofcom's checker to identify possibilities, then ask each provider whether it can supply the exact property. If choosing a mobile hub, assess it in the intended room. | If a coverage result looks promising, I still need to know whether the provider can supply my home and where its hub works. Roughly 31% of consumers would make address certainty their primary concern. |
| Household use | Compare each available plan's stated service and usage conditions with the activities that need to run at the same time; assess the connection during any applicable cancellation period. | When work calls and other household activities coincide, I need more than an orderable connection. Around 31% of consumers would put suitability for their core use first. |
| Installation | For satellite, check the proposed position's sky view, cable route and any required permission. For fixed wireless, ask whether external equipment or a property assessment is needed. | If I cannot find a suitable position for exterior equipment or get permission to install it, the service may not be practical at my property. About 23% of consumers would prioritise installation feasibility. |
| Commitment and returns | Read the order terms for the minimum term, cancellation process, equipment ownership and return window. Request a formal assessment before relying on a Universal Service Obligation connection. | Before replacing my current connection, I want to know what happens if the new service does not suit the household. Roughly 15% of consumers would put commitment and equipment-return terms first. |
These priorities also affect which route is worth investigating next. Ofcom says fixed-wireless coverage is predicted rather than assured at each premises. For a 4G/5G hub, Three advises trying a different position, such as near a window, if speeds are slow. Satellite requires a different check: Starlink says its installation position needs a clear view of the sky. None of those checks replaces the provider's address-specific order and installation decision.
Ofcom says local conditions can prevent fixed-wireless service at a premises even when predictive coverage data suggests it should be available.
Check the exact address with the provider before committing, and assess the supplied service in its intended position during any applicable cancellation period.
Starlink's installation guidance calls for a clear view of the sky. The proposed mounting position, cable route and any permission for exterior equipment can determine whether installation is practical.
Check the position with Starlink's siting tool and plan the cable and power route before ordering or installing equipment.
A separate mount may be needed if the included kickstand does not suit the proposed position.
Three says its 5G Home Broadband hub remains Three's property and must be returned after cancellation. Return conditions for equipment obtained through other arrangements may differ.
Keep the order terms and follow the provider's return instructions; retain evidence of dispatch when sending equipment back.
Ofcom's broadband Universal Service Obligation assessment considers more than whether an existing connection falls below 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload. Other available service and planned public broadband work can affect eligibility.
Ask BT, or KCOM in the Hull area, to assess the address rather than treating a speed result as an approval.
These providers illustrate different service routes; whether any offer can be ordered and installed depends on the property and the terms of the chosen plan.
A Low Earth Orbit satellite option for a fixed-location home where terrestrial alternatives cannot provide a confirmed usable connection and a suitable installation position is available.
A 4G/5G home-broadband provider to check where service can be ordered for the address and a hub can be assessed in the home.
Another provider to check for an address-specific home-broadband offer alongside other available wireless routes.
No. Ofcom says its fixed-wireless coverage information uses operators' predictive modelling, and local conditions may prevent service at a premises predicted to be covered. Confirm the exact address with the provider before relying on the result.
Yes, if the provider can supply the address, assess the hub where you would actually use it. Three advises trying another position, such as a window sill, when speeds are slow; a coverage result alone cannot establish how the connection will perform inside your home.
Check that the intended position has a clear view of the sky, then plan mounting, cable routing, power access and any permission needed for exterior equipment. Starlink says its kit includes a kickstand, while other mounting options are separate.
Request an address-specific assessment if you cannot obtain a connection meeting Ofcom's benchmark of at least 10 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload. Other available service and relevant public broadband work can affect eligibility; BT handles requests outside the Hull area, where KCOM is the contact.
That depends on the provider's equipment terms. Three says its 5G Home Broadband hub remains its property and must be returned after cancellation, so check ownership and return instructions for the particular order.