By now, virtually every home in the UK is able to access at least one form of internet service, yet there are still times when we need to reevaluate which service is best for us. Perhaps you’re moving home, or maybe you’ve found that your current service just isn’t delivering the reliable connection and fast speeds that you need.
Unfortunately, choosing the right internet service for you isn’t as easy as it might sound. Not only can choosing the wrong service cost you money and take up valuable time, it can still mean having to deal with slow internet speeds or an unreliable connection, something that can be frustrating for a number of reasons.
Two of the most popular broadband services available are Mobile Broadband and Fibre, but before you can decide which is best for you, you need to know the answers to commonly asked questions such as “what’s the difference between broadband and fibre?”. So, let’s dig into exactly what they are, and what the differences between the two mean for you.
What is Mobile Broadband?
Widely available and easy to get set up, mobile broadband provides internet to your devices similarly to any other WiFi network. Just like how your mobile phone connects to a 4G or 5G network when you’re using your data, your mobile broadband hub works in the same way. You simply have to receive your hub, insert the 4G sim card into it (just like with your mobile phone), and you’re good to go.
Since it works in the same way as your phone, you can be sure to enjoy a good connection in any place where you can receive a strong phone signal. What’s more, unlike a wired service, your 4G mobile broadband hub can be used anywhere that it can be plugged into a power source, offering great flexibility if you want to take it with you to your second home, your caravan, or anywhere else.
Depending on how strong your local area coverage is, how much network congestion there is, and who your provider is, a mobile broadband service can deliver anywhere between 5 mbps to 60 mbps download speeds. Typically, you should expect to enjoy speeds of around 15 mbps, which is usually enough for you to go about your everyday internet activities without any issues.
What is Fibre?
Also known as fibre optic, ultrafast full fibre broadband is one of the newest internet technologies. Delivered through fibre optic cables, you can receive a reliable and super high speed internet service directly to your home.
Unfortunately, fibre broadband requires a lot of supporting infrastructure. If you live in a town or city, this usually isn’t a problem, as this infrastructure is likely to already exist. However, if you live in a more rural area, this can often mean disruptive installation processes, not to mention high installation costs on top of an already higher than average monthly plan.
Fibre is known as the best service if you want to enjoy a high speed internet service, with download speeds ranging from 100 mbps all the way up to 1 gbps and even above for the high end services. The maximum speed you’ll experience will depend on how much you’re willing to pay, but even the low end services will deliver a service that meets the needs of any household, regardless of how many people are connected at one time or what activities they get up to.
If you live in a town or city, you’re likely to be able to get access to the service without having to pay for any additional installation costs other than for your hub. However, if you live somewhere more rural which requires cables to be laid, you could be looking at costs ranging from a few hundred pounds up into the thousands of pounds, depending on how much cable needs to be laid and how much work will be required to do this.
5G Broadband vs Fibre – Which is Best for Me?
Answering this depends greatly on several factors unique to you, such as your location, financial capabilities, and speed requirements.
Fibre broadband is a great solution for those who have the money to pay the higher monthly costs and already live in an area which has the existing infrastructure. If it’s available to you and you are willing to pay for the service, you’ll be able to enjoy:
- High speed internet
- A reliable connection
- Your own dedicated line
On the other hand, mobile broadband is particularly good for those who live more rurally, and those who care about:
- Cheaper installation and ongoing costs
- Faster and easier set up with minimal disruption
- A portable service
- Wide availability to even the most remote locations
Plus, if you feel that mobile broadband is best suited for you but you’d still like to enjoy the best speeds possible, it’s also possible to get an antenna that attaches to your house and gives your internet speeds a boost.
Dyfed: Mobile Broadband Specialists
Wherever you live in Wales, whatever your priorities are, we’re here to make sure that you can enjoy a reliable internet service. Through a hassle free installation process alongside affordable price plans that include an external antenna to give you the best possible broadband, we’re able to help make sure that you can game online, work from home, and stream your favourite shows without a worry.
To find out more about what our service includes and what we can do for you, get in touch with us today.
