Wireless broadband deals are pretty much the only broadband deals you’ll see these days. You get a Wi-Fi connection with a wireless router, which is by far the most popular way of getting online at home or work.
It means that everyone at home can access the internet at the same time via their smartphones, laptops and tablets, and everyone at work can log on with whatever device they use for work.
To set up a wireless internet connection for your home you’ll need a Wi-Fi router, which comes included in any offer when you compare broadband deals from major UK providers. They’re usually free of charge and are very simple to set up, with no technical skills required.
Our best wireless broadband deals on Uswitch.com September 2023
What are the best Wi-Fi deals in the UK?
You’ll be able to find great Wi-Fi deals from every major broadband provider in the UK. The speed and reliability of that wireless internet connection then depends on what broadband deals are available to your property, and what type of deal you choose.
Superfast fibre broadband is widely available across the country, and its prices are very similar to (sometimes cheaper than) copper internet deals, despite being more than three times faster.
However, it’s always worth checking to see if there are fast Wi-Fi deals available where you live. Chances are, there certainly will be.
When comparing Wi-Fi deals, here are the key options that you should be aware of:
- Superfast fibre broadband — Available to more than 96% of UK homes, ‘fibre-to-the-cabinet’ (FTTC) broadband runs on the Openreach fibre network and offers ‘superfast’ speeds — a big boost compared to standard copper broadband. Average speeds offered are between 30Mbps and 70Mbps.
- Cable broadband — Supplied by Virgin Media, this uses a different technology to deliver broadband to your home. It can offer speeds of up to 1Gbps (1000Mbps) and is available to around 52% of homes.
- Full fibre broadband — While most fibre packages still use copper cables to connect your home to the nearest street cabinet, full fibre (or ‘fibre-to-the-premises’) sends fibre cabling directly to your home. It’s the least widely-available service — only about one-third of homes currently have it available to them — but it can deliver lightning-fast speeds well above 1Gbps and the network rapidly growing its coverage across the country.
- Standard broadband — Also known as copper ADSL, this is the slowest and most basic broadband type in the UK. It operates entirely through the UK’s widely-available copper telephone network, supplying average speeds of around 10Mbps.
Compare Uswitch broadband offers.
Can I get wireless fibre broadband?
All fibre broadband connections will be wireless. The vast majority of homes in the UK can access fibre broadband, but there are still a few places that miss out.
Hard-to-reach rural parts of the UK might not have access to fibre broadband yet, and some urban areas are still not connected, often due to difficulties in laying the necessary fibre cabling (especially in purpose-built flats).
However, this applies to less than 4% of UK properties. And if you are affected, there may be more suitable options at a similar speed to fibre, such as 4G and 5G mobile broadband.
What’s the wireless internet speed in my area?
To find out what speeds are available in your area and which fibre deals you can get, enter your address into our Postcode Checker.
We’ll show you what speeds you can expect on your street and what home Wi-Fi broadband offers are available where you are.
How does a wireless broadband router work?
A wireless router works by sending signals throughout your home in the form of Wi-Fi.
Almost all computers, laptops and mobile devices will have an inbuilt receiver that can connect to the internet without the need for wires. Although if you have an older machine, you can still connect wirelessly through an internet dongle or external network adapter.
While there’s a lot of jargon related to Wi-Fi, there are a few key numbers you need to look out for:
- Older versions: 802.11g and 802.11n
- Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac
- Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax (the most recent version)
These refer to international standards for Wi-Fi that indicate how fast your wireless network will be and how many devices it can handle at any one time.
Older and cheaper routers will only use the 802.11g standard, which transmits in the 2.4GHz bandwidth — a signal that has a good reach but is slower than some more modern connections. Newer models may be listed as 802.11n, which still uses this bandwidth, but comes with better technology for faster speeds.
However, for the best performance at home, you should look for routers that are 802.11ac certified. This means they can also transmit on the 5GHz frequency, which translates to much faster performance between device and router.
The next generation of Wi-Fi routers is 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6. It’s expected to make Wi-Fi much easier to use in busy areas like stadiums and airports — but eventually our homes too, given its larger capacity for bandwidth and more devices.
You can learn more about wireless routers with our guide.
While some providers offer this new technology in their more advanced routers, more basic options on cheap Uswitch broadband packages usually won’t have this capability, so you may have to buy your own router to take advantage of it.
How to set up a home internet router
Most routers provided with broadband packages will already be set up to supply your home Wi-Fi internet network, so you’ll have to do very little to get them up and running.
In the majority of cases, if you’re choosing any regular broadband package, all you’ll have to do is plug your new router into your home’s master phone socket, connect it to a power socket and you’re good to go. Many providers use Openreach’s network, which means no extra installations are needed to set you up on a new Wi-Fi connection.
However, some types of broadband, such as Virgin Media’s cable connections and full fibre packages, may require an engineer to visit your home to install the necessary hardware for a fee. If this is the case, you can arrange this when you sign up to a service.
Which broadband provider has the best Wi-Fi router?
You may not choose your broadband provider based on who has the best wireless router, but it doesn’t hurt to consider it before you make your purchase. All the major broadband providers on Uswitch have invested in their products in order to ensure they have the best Wi-Fi router available for new customers.
Here are the routers that come with the most popular broadband providers’ packages:
- Sky Hub and Sky Q Hub
- BT Home Hub and Smart Hub
- Virgin Media Hub 3.0
- TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub and Super Router
- EE Smart Hub and Bright Boxes
There are some slight differences between each provider’s Wi-Fi hub, but perhaps the biggest difference is between old routers and new ones. If you’re on an old contract with your provider, upgrading to a new router (or getting one for free when you switch to a new provider) could improve your Wi-Fi strength and the broadband speeds in your home.
What to look for when comparing wireless internet routers
- All new wireless routers offer some type of automatic ‘channel switching’, allowing your home hub to switch to less-congested Wi-Fi channels in order to keep your broadband running fast.
- Most new wireless routers should also offer wired gigabit-capable connections on at least one port, giving you more options when you’re using an ethernet connection.
- All the latest wireless routers are easy to set up. In most cases, it will simply be a matter of plugging the router into the main internet socket and a power outlet.
- All wireless routers supplied by the main broadband providers are well-designed and compact, so you can position them in your home without it beign an eyesore.
What are the best wireless routers on offer from UK broadband providers?
What if my Wi-Fi isn’t working?
In most cases, once your Wi-Fi internet router is set up, you should immediately be able to connect to your home broadband. But if your wireless internet isn’t working, or is slower than expected, there are a few simple things you can try to fix this.
- Check your device — It may be the case you haven’t turned on Wi-Fi access on your computer or smartphone, or haven’t connected to the right network, especially if your router has multiple Wi-Fi signals. Check that everything is working on your device first.
- Reboot your router — If the issue isn’t with your device, it might be your router. Switch it off and unplug it and wait for a couple of minutes before turning it on again to reboot the network.
- Move your router — If your Wi-Fi signal is weak or unreliable, try moving your router. Make sure it’s in an open spot near the centre of your home with no obstructions or other electrical items nearby that could interfere with the signal.
If these tips don’t work, learn more with our guide to internet connectivity problems for more information.
Instead, if you’re looking to bring your Wi-Fi connection wtih you, take a look at our range of wireless mobile broadband offers.
