Compare Mobile Broadband Deals
See the 4G and 5G home broadband packages available at your address – no fixed phone line needed.
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Broadband over the mobile network sends your internet through 4G or 5G signal instead of a fixed phone or fibre line. The main use is a 4G or 5G home hub – a plug-in router that gives a whole home Wi-Fi without an engineer or a landline. It suits properties where full fibre hasn’t arrived, or anyone who wants no phone line. Portable options such as dongles, pocket Wi-Fi (MiFi) and data SIMs also exist, but you buy those direct from a mobile network. Quotezone lets you compare mobile broadband home hubs at your postcode and see what can be set up where you live.
What is mobile broadband?
It means getting online through the 4G or 5G mobile network rather than a fixed line. There are two broad types – a home hub for the whole house, or a portable device for one or two gadgets.
Home hubs (what you compare here)
A 4G or 5G hub is a router that picks up mobile signal and shares it as home Wi-Fi. It plugs into a power socket, needs no engineer and no landline – the kind of deal you can compare on Quotezone.
Portable options (bought direct)
Dongles, pocket Wi-Fi (MiFi) and data-only SIMs give you internet on the move. These come straight from a mobile network rather than through a comparison like this one.
How a 4G or 5G home hub works
Fixed-wireless home broadband replaces a fibre or copper line with a mobile signal. Set-up is simple, which is part of the appeal.
Plug in and go
The hub arrives ready to use. You plug it into the mains, place it near a window for the best signal, and it shares the mobile signal as Wi-Fi across your home.
No landline, no engineer
Because it runs on mobile signal, there’s no phone line to install and usually no engineer visit – handy for rentals or homes off the fibre network.
Indoor or outdoor unit
Most hubs sit indoors. Where the signal is weaker, an outdoor aerial unit can pull in a stronger connection. The right one depends on coverage at your address.
4G vs 5G home broadband
Both run on the same idea – a hub that shares mobile signal. 5G is faster where it’s available; 4G covers more of the country.
4G home broadband
Available across most of the UK and a solid choice where 5G hasn’t reached. Speeds are typically lower than 5G but fine for browsing, streaming and everyday use.
5G home broadband
Where 5G reaches, it can rival fixed-line broadband for speed. Coverage is growing fast – 5G now reaches between 76% and 94% of premises outdoors, depending on the network (Ofcom).
Which you get
The hub matches the network available at your address. Quotezone shows the 4G or 5G home broadband deals that can actually connect where you live.
Who is it for?
A home hub fits people who want quick, line-free Wi-Fi. It works best where the mobile signal is strong, so a coverage check matters.
Homes without full fibre
If fibre hasn’t reached your street, a 4G or 5G hub can be a faster, simpler alternative than an old copper line.
Renters and movers
No engineer and no fixed tie to a phone line makes a hub easy to set up – and to take with you when you move.
No-landline households
If you don’t want a phone line at all, a home hub gives you Wi-Fi without one. Just check mobile signal is strong at your address first.
Speeds and data allowances
There’s no fixed line to set a ceiling, so the signal at your address does most of the work. A postcode check is the best guide to what you’ll get.
Speed depends on signal
Your speed rises and falls with the strength of the signal at your address. Providers quote the speed you’re likely to get; if you consistently don’t get it, you may be able to leave the contract (Ofcom).
Unlimited data is common
Home hub deals usually come with unlimited data, so you can stream and work without watching a usage cap. Portable data SIMs are more likely to have a monthly limit.
Busy households
Several people streaming or on video calls at once need more headroom. A 5G hub, where available, copes better with a busy home than 4G.
Where mobile broadband fits in the UK network
Full fibre still doesn’t reach every home. As of January 2026 it was available to 24 million premises – 82% of UK homes – while gigabit-capable broadband reached 89% (Ofcom Connected Nations). That leaves a sizeable minority of homes still waiting for a fast fixed line, and this is where a 4G or 5G home hub earns its place as a fixed-wireless alternative.
Mobile coverage has been catching up to fill the gap. 5G coverage outdoors now ranges between 76% and 94% across the networks, and the share of homes with 5G from every network has risen from 47% to 64% (Ofcom). For a property off the fibre map, a home hub can deliver useful speeds today without waiting for cables to be laid – though the signal at your exact address decides how well it performs.
Which providers offer it?
Quotezone compares home hubs, which give a whole property Wi-Fi over mobile signal – not the portable devices sold straight by the networks.
Three home hubs
On Quotezone, Three supplies the 4G and 5G home hubs you can compare. The search surfaces the right hub for the signal at your address, whether that’s 4G or 5G.
Buying portable kit elsewhere
Dongles, pocket Wi-Fi and data SIMs aren’t part of this comparison – if you want one, you buy it direct from a mobile network.
How much does it cost?
Cost depends on the network, the speed and the contract. Comparing the monthly price next to the full contract cost shows the real total.
Network and speed
A 5G hub usually costs a little more than a 4G one, reflecting the faster speeds where 5G reaches. Both come as a monthly price with the hub included.
Contract length
A longer contract often carries a lower monthly price. Quotezone shows the monthly cost and the full contract cost so you can weigh them up.
Offers and price rises
Any setup fee, incentive or in-contract price rise is shown up front. Most providers now state a rise as a set amount before you sign up (Ofcom).
How to switch or set one up
Setting up a home hub is quick because there’s no line to install. A coverage check first avoids surprises.
Compare at your postcode
Enter your postcode, then add your address. Quotezone shows the 4G and 5G home hubs that can connect where you live, with prices and speeds side by side.
Buy through the provider
Pick a deal and click through to Three. You complete the purchase on their site, which starts the switch under One Touch Switching where you’re leaving another provider (Ofcom).
Plug in when it arrives
The hub is posted to you ready to use – no engineer in most cases. Place it near a window, switch it on and connect your devices to the Wi-Fi.
A real-world example
Where fibre hasn’t reached, a coverage check often reveals a faster mobile option already on the doorstep.
The problem
A family renting a rural cottage couldn’t get full fibre, and the old copper line struggled with two people working from home.
The fix
A postcode check showed strong 5G at the address. They set up a 5G home hub – no engineer, no landline – and got speeds well above their old line, with unlimited data.
You might also need
Setting up a new connection is a good moment to protect the kit that depends on it.
Gadget insurance
Cover your router, laptops and phones against damage and theft – compare gadget insurance.
Home contents insurance
Protect the tech and belongings in your home – compare home contents insurance.
Mobile broadband FAQs
What is mobile broadband?
It’s internet delivered over the 4G or 5G mobile network instead of a fixed phone or fibre line. The main home option is a 4G or 5G hub – a plug-in router that shares the mobile signal as Wi-Fi across your home, with no landline and usually no engineer visit. Portable dongles, pocket Wi-Fi and data SIMs also exist, but those are bought direct from a mobile network.
Is a 4G or 5G home hub as good as fibre?
Where 5G is strong, a home hub can rival a fixed-line connection for everyday use. 4G is slower but covers more of the country. The trade-off is that performance depends on the mobile signal at your address, whereas a fibre line is more consistent. If full fibre hasn’t reached your street, a hub can be the faster, simpler option in the meantime.
Do I need a phone line for mobile broadband?
No. A 4G or 5G home hub runs entirely on mobile signal, so there’s no phone line to install and usually no engineer visit. That makes it popular with renters and homes that don’t want a landline. Just check the mobile coverage is strong at your address before you sign up.
How fast is a 4G or 5G home hub?
Speed depends on the signal at your address and whether you’re on 4G or 5G. 5G can reach speeds close to a fixed line where coverage is good, while 4G is slower but widely available. Providers quote the speed you’re likely to get; if you consistently fall short, you may be able to leave the contract.
Is there a data limit?
Most 4G and 5G home hub deals come with unlimited data, so you can stream, game and work without a cap. Portable data SIMs are more likely to carry a monthly limit. Quotezone shows the data allowance alongside the price and speed for each deal.
Can I get it where I live?
It depends on the mobile signal at your exact address rather than on fixed-line coverage. Enter your postcode on Quotezone, then add your address, to see the 4G and 5G home hubs that can actually connect where you live.
Does Quotezone compare dongles and MiFi?
No. Quotezone compares 4G and 5G home hubs – the routers that give a whole property Wi-Fi over mobile signal. Portable devices such as dongles, pocket Wi-Fi (MiFi) and data-only SIMs are bought direct from a mobile network, not through this comparison.
How do I switch to a home hub deal?
Compare deals on Quotezone, pick one and click through to the provider to buy. Completing the purchase starts the move under One Touch Switching if you’re leaving another provider, so your old service is closed for you. The hub is then posted out ready to plug in.
Ready to get online without a fixed line?
Reviewed by: Piers Murray
Broadband & Mobile Expert
Written by: Katie Gawley
Insurance Content Writer
Fact-checked by: Quotezone Editorial Team
This content follows our Editorial Guidelines
Last Updated: June 2026