who offers the best network for 4G/5G Broadband
Having already found which network providers have the best signal at your location (step 1: Signal Checks) the decision when picking your service provider comes down to two things. These being how much data will you need, and if you want a Contract or “Pay as You Go”
Data is Everything with Off grid Broadband
The more data you can get for your money the better. The ideal solution is unlimited data as this gives you peace of mind and the ultimate flexibility in your usage.
Most deals come with free texts and calls. You are not going to use these so you can ignore this part of any deal. All we are interested in is the data.
How much data will you need for broadband internet?
This depends on what you are going to use it for. If you expect to use it for searching the web, reading the news, sending emails and maybe the odd webchat, then you’re not going to need a huge amount, we would suggest around 40Gigabytes of data a month maximum. If you intend to use it for streaming video on a smart tv or maybe use it for gaming, you are going to consume a lot of data and will want an unlimited package.
Not all unlimited data packages are made equal
TOP TIP: Not all unlimited packages actually mean unlimited. Some deals will state unlimited but in the small print will state “speeds will be slowed after” and then state the number of Gigabytes you can use before they slow your connection. This is otherwise known as throttling. Keep an eye out for any small print or wording such as “Always on data” unfortunately this is not the same as “unlimited data”.
Which service provider is best?
In the UK there are 4 main service providers or networks. Each of these networks has their own infrastructure which means each provider offers varying signal levels and speeds in differing parts of the UK. (Refer to step1 signal checks) for more details on this.
The main service providers are O2, EE, Three and Vodafone. There are many more providers available but all of these companies piggyback on the main service providers networks. We can refer to these companies as Tier2 providers.
Tier2 providers include some very well known brands such as GiffGaff, Sky mobile, Tesco mobile, Smarty and Asda mobile. Some of these tier2 networks offer deals and special offers the main service providers don’t so they can be attractive in varying circumstances.
Pay as you Go 4G & 5G
For Pay as You Go or contract free deals we really like the GiffGaff network. If you purchase what they call “Goody bags” you can receive good levels of data at completive pricing without the need for a contract deal. Such deals are great for occasional use or if you don’t spend the entire year at the location. It’s also a great network if you are trying off grid broadband for the first time. The last thing you want is to get stuck with a 12month contract and then realise it’s not for you. A “Pay As You Go” data deal is a great option if this is the case. Pricing is simple. £30 on GiffGaff gets you unlimited data for 1 month. After 1 month your Goody bag will expire and you can choose if you would like to purchase another ‘Goody bag” with another months worth of data. To order a GiffGaff sim for free with £5 free credit click here
GiffGaff runs on the O2 network. If you have followed the signal check steps and O2 has no signal at your location then the main points to consider when choosing your network are, The more data the better, ignore calls and texts and look out for throtteling.
Contract SIM Only deals
Contract sim only deals can be a more attractive option if you intend to use the WiFi all year round. contract sim only deals can offer data packages cheaper than that of PayAsYouGo deals. The only downside being that if you don’t use it, you will still have to pay. When choosing you deal remember we only want a Sim. Otherwise known as a sim only deal.
We have had great results in the UK with EE. They have great infrastructure, hence 4G coverage across the UK and offer great speeds reliably. They also offer some great sim only deals with high levels of data.
There are other great contracts out there. When choosing remember these simple things. The more data the better, Sim only deal, No throttling and signal checks.
Now you have chosen your network and ordered you sim you should move onto the next step of choosing your router and if required Antenna kit.