4G and 5G stopgap broadband while you wait for installation

A stopgap makes sense when your install date is after move-in, the address is a new build not yet in the databases, your tenancy is short, or you simply want a guaranteed connection from day one with no risk of a gap.

See Three home broadband and our guide to check availability at the new address. A 4G or 5G home broadband hub is the right call whenever you need to be online now but a fixed line is not ready. It connects over the mobile network, just like your phone, so there is no fixed-line install to book and nothing to drill into the wall. For movers and renters, four situations come up again and again, and any one of them is a strong reason to consider a hub.

The first is waiting for a full-fibre install. A new fibre line usually needs an Openreach engineer and a booked appointment, which is why it commonly takes two to three weeks from order, and sometimes longer during busy periods. A hub keeps you online in that gap, then you switch over to the fixed line once it is live. If you want the fixed-line timeline in detail, see our guide to UK broadband installation times.

The second is moving day itself. Order the hub to arrive the day you collect the keys, plug it in, and the whole home is online before the boxes are unpacked. That matters most for anyone working from home, where a day offline is a day lost. The third is a short or uncertain tenancy: on a rolling one-month plan you commit to nothing, so a six-month let or an open-ended stay is no problem. The fourth is a delay while a landlord confirms permission for installation work, since full-fibre drilling can need written consent. A hub needs none, so you stay connected while that is sorted. Our guide to what to ask a letting agent or landlord about broadband covers how to get that permission quickly.

Good 5G typically delivers 150 to 400 Mbit/s, with 4G around 30 to 100 Mbit/s where signal is strong. 4G covers around 96% of UK landmass from at least one operator, so a usable signal is widely available (Ofcom).

The single biggest choice is 4G or 5G. 5G is the faster, smoother option and is the default where signal is good. 4G is slower but reaches almost everywhere, so it is the dependable fallback when 5G has not yet arrived at your street. Providers quote average 5G downloads of around 150 Mbit/s (Three quote 150, EE quote 146), while 4G home broadband typically averages 25 to 40 Mbit/s. In strong 5G areas, independent testing has measured near-peak speeds approaching 1 Gbit/s.

Independent measurement backs this up. In Opensignal's January 2026 UK report, Three led all operators for 5G download speed at around 187 Mbit/s, and separate testing has recorded near-peak 5G downloads approaching 1 Gbit/s in the strongest areas. Those are headline figures, so treat them as a best case rather than a promise. What you actually get depends on the signal where the hub sits.

Is 5G home broadband any good?

In a word, yes, where the signal is strong. Modern 5G home broadband can rival full fibre for everyday use: streaming in 4K, video calls, gaming and several people online at once. It tends to have slightly higher latency than fibre and is a little less consistent, so a competitive gamer or a household relying on flawless uploads all day may still prefer fibre long term. For the weeks before your fibre line goes live, or for a renter who wants a no-fuss connection, 5G is a strong choice. If you want the full comparison, see our explainer on full fibre versus FTTC, cable and 4G/5G.

What affects your real-world speed

Four things move the needle most. Signal strength at the hub is the biggest: a spot near a window, up high and away from thick walls, can make a real difference. The time of day matters too, since like all shared networks mobile can dip a little at busy evening times. Distance from the mast and local geography play a part, as hills, dense buildings and even heavy rain can nudge speeds around. And of course 4G versus 5G: if only 4G reaches you today, expect steady everyday speeds rather than fibre-like figures, which is still plenty for streaming and calls.

Order a rolling plan, place the router near a window for the best signal, and power it on. There is no engineer and nothing to install in the property, so it needs no landlord permission and can move with you.

1. 1
   Order it to arrive when you need it. Many providers deliver the next working day, so aim the delivery at your move-in date.
2. 2
   Plug it in. Insert the SIM if needed, connect the hub to the mains and switch it on.
3. 3
   Connect your devices. Join the hub's Wi-Fi using the details on the label. Modern hubs support dozens of devices at once, often 64 or more.
4. 4
   Find the best spot. Try the hub near a window and up high, then run a quick speed test to settle on the strongest position.

For context, a new full-fibre install commonly sees the engineer visit around 15 to 20 working days after you order, sometimes sooner. That is perfectly normal, and ordering early is the answer for the long-term line. In the meantime, the hub means no waiting at all. If you are moving into a brand-new property, our guide to broadband in a new-build home explains why the address sometimes will not show in a checker yet.

Rolling 4G and 5G plans cost around £20 to £40 a month, often with a money-back guarantee if coverage disappoints. You cancel when your fixed line goes live, or keep it as a backup.

Or compare 5G home broadband deals where coverage is strong.

Compare 4G home broadband deals on rolling monthly terms.

The terms matter as much as the speed for a stopgap. A rolling one-month plan means you can leave with a month's notice, which is exactly what you want while waiting for fibre or renting short-term. Here is how the main providers compare.

Three's 30-day money-back guarantee is the standout, because a stopgap lives or dies on the signal at your specific address. A full month to test it means you can return the hub for a refund if it does not perform, with no awkward tie-in. EE and Vodafone give you the statutory 14-day window instead, so simply test even sooner with those. You can browse current options on our 4G and 5G broadband deals page, narrow to 5G home broadband or 4G home broadband directly, and rolling options sit on our 1-month rolling deals page.

Reading the prices sensibly

Mobile broadband prices move around, and providers typically apply a set annual increase each April. A rolling plan usually costs a little more per month than a longer contract, which is the fair trade for total flexibility. When you compare, look at the all-in cost across the months you actually need, including any upfront fee, rather than the headline monthly figure alone. Choose rolling for flexibility when your stay is short, a longer term for value if you know you will use the hub for many months, and always confirm the live price at the provider's checkout before you order.

One of the quiet joys of a hub is that it is not tied to a building. Because it connects over the mobile network with no fixed install, you can unplug it, take it to a new address and set it up again in minutes, subject to coverage there. A fixed line stays put when you leave, but a hub comes with you. For anyone who moves often, that is a real advantage: unplug and go, plug in at the new place, then run a quick speed test to find the best spot. Just check coverage at the new address first, since signal varies by location.

This portability is what makes a hub such a natural fit for renters and short-term stays. If that is you, our guides to broadband for renters and broadband for short lets and temporary stays go deeper, and the no-contract broadband for renters guide in this series covers flexible fixed-line options too.

Check coverage for the exact postcode before ordering, as mobile speeds vary street by street. Combined outdoor 5G reached 64% of UK premises by January 2026, up from 47% six months earlier (Ofcom).

If you want to cancel monthly long term, see no-contract broadband for renters.

• Ofcom's mobile checker. Independent and free, it combines operator data with real-world measurements down to small areas, so it is a trustworthy first look.
• The provider's own coverage map. Three, EE and Vodafone each show predicted 4G and 5G signal at your postcode, which helps you pick between them.
• BroadbandMap.org.uk. A postcode-level view of full fibre, part fibre, cable, 4G and 5G in one place, so you can compare a hub against the fixed options too.

Steer around these and a 4G or 5G stopgap runs smoothly from the day you move in.

• Skipping the coverage check. Signal varies by address, so confirm 4G or 5G reaches your new home before you order, not after.
• Signing a long contract for a short need. If you only need a few weeks before fibre, a rolling plan is the better fit; do not tie yourself in for two years for a stopgap.
• Forgetting the money-back window. Test the real speed in the first days, especially with a 14-day window, so you can return the hub easily if it underperforms.
• Not returning the hub after cancelling. Send the device back within the provider's window to avoid a non-return charge.
• Placing the hub badly. Tucked behind the TV or in a cupboard, signal suffers. Near a window and up high is best, so move it around and speed-test.

A 4G or 5G hub is one piece of a smooth move. Depending on where you are in the journey, these guides in our Moving & Renting series help with the rest:

You can also explore mobile broadband as a temporary backup while you wait for installation.

• Ofcom. (2025). Connected Nations UK report 2025. ofcom.org.uk
• Opensignal. (2026, January). United Kingdom mobile network experience report. opensignal.com
• Three. (2026). 4G & 5G home broadband deals. three.co.uk
• EE. (2026). EE mobile broadband: 4G & 5G broadband & WiFi. ee.co.uk
• Vodafone. (2026). 5G home broadband. vodafone.co.uk
• Openreach. (2026). Time for a big switch-up as PSTN switch-off looms. openreach.com
• thinkbroadband. (2026, April 17). Full fibre availability increases to 82% of UK premises. thinkbroadband.com
• TOTSCo. (2024). One Touch Switch. totsco.org.uk

Figures checked on 2 June 2026. Speeds, prices and contract terms change frequently; confirm live details at the provider before ordering.