O2 Mobile Broadband Buyers Guide - Is O2 right for you?
You probably know of O2 as one of the UK's most popular mobile network, however you might not know you can use their mobile signal to power your home broadband. But is it right for you? Read on to find out more.
O2 Mobile Broadband: at a glance
- 4G speeds average around 15Mb, actual speeds achieved depends on signal strength and how many people are using the service in your area, up to 7.2Mb download speeds on 3G
- Contracts from three months to 36 months available
- Up to 150Mb of data on mobile broadband plans, with some also offering unlimited data
- USB dongles and Wi-Fi personal hotspots available
- Unlimited Wi-Fi at thousands of UK hotspots
- Extra data can be purchased if you need it, and you can also put a cap on your usage to avoid excess charges
O2 Mobile Broadband: Pros and cons
Reasons to choose O2
- Money-back guarantee if you aren't happy with your purchase
- Design your own contracts - you can set the length to anything from one month to three years
- O2 Priority perks and free roaming available on data only SIMs
- Free Wi-Fi at over 16,000 hotspots throughout the UK
- Mobile dongles and routers make it easy to stay connected when you're out
Possible downsides
- The 4G network is slower than rival providers
- Shorter contracts cost significantly more
- As with all mobile-broadband services, you are dependent on getting a good signal
Can I get O2 mobile broadband?
O2's 4G network is available to virtually the whole of the UK population. They've also launched 5G, which is now available in more than 3,000 cities, according to data from the network itself.
Over 99% of the UK population can get 4G on O2, a figure that's in line with the other mobile network providers. Unless you're in a particularly remote area, you should be able to get it.
However, according to our Speed Test data, O2's network is the slowest of the UK providers. The average speed of around 29Mb is more than 5Mb slower than the next on the list, EE, and is a bit slower than the average speed you'd expect from even a basic fibre broadband deal.
Can I get 5G on O2?
Yes! O2's 5G network is expanding rapidly. You can get 5G home broadband with O2s Nighthawk M6 Mobile Router.
What O2 mobile broadband deals can I get?
O2 has four options in total, and you get to design your own plan. You can select the length of the contract from three to 36 months (or 24 months with some devices), the amount of data from 5GB to unlimited, and in some cases even the upfront cost. You can choose to pay a bigger lump sum at the start in order to slash your monthly bill - or you can pay nothing at all.
Your mobile broadband options are:
- Alcatel Pocket Hotspot 4G: This pocket-sized router is portable, with up to 24 hours of battery life, and allows you to connect up to 32 devices at once. It offers 4G mobile broadband with contracts starting from one month.
- Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router: You can get 4G mobile broadband on this high-spec ultra secure mobile router. Contracts start at three months and can run for up to 36.
- Nighthawk M6 Mobile Router: O2's top-of-the range option comes with 5G mobile broadband, again with a high-spec Nighthawk mobile router. Once more contracts range from three to 36 months.
- Alcatel 4G Mobile Dongle: Want something simpler and cheaper? O2 offer an Alcatel dongle that you can plug and play into a USB connection and connect your device to the internet. Unlike the above options, this is limited to a single device at a time, as it does not create a Wi-Fi network.
In addition to these plans, O2 offer a range of tablets on similarly customisable deals.
Should I choose mobile broadband from O2?
If you can get a strong 5G signal in your property, then O2's mobile broadband options can be a suitable alternative. Although paying for unlimited 5G data is unlikely to be cheaper than the equivalent home broadband option.
4G broadband from O2 will be cheaper, but will mostly only suitable for low usage requirements (multiple people browsing or one person streaming HD at a time).
So, O2 mobile broadband serves best as an alternative for people who cannot get a better/cheaper package through traditional home broadband services.