O2 Mobile Broadband Deals

What is O2 mobile broadband?

Mobile broadband refers to devices that let you connect your laptop, tablet, and other gadgets to the internet wherever you are, as long as there’s a mobile signal. Mobile Wi-Fi devices do this by broadcasting a Wi-Fi network using a mobile signal, so gadgets that don’t have their own SIM card but do support Wi-Fi can get online.

This can be done over 5G, 4G, or even 3G, so as long as there’s some sort of mobile signal, you’ll be able to get your gadgets online. And most mobile broadband devices are battery-powered, so they don’t need to be plugged in, meaning they can beam out a Wi-Fi network in cars, trains, or even when walking around.

O2 mobile broadband then is specifically the mobile broadband devices and plans that O2 sells. So if you buy an O2 mobile broadband device, then you’ll be using O2’s signal for the Wi-Fi network it creates.

Why would I need O2 mobile broadband?

If you ever find yourself away from your home or office and wishing you could get your laptop or other device online, then O2 mobile broadband is a way to do that.

Not everywhere has public Wi-Fi networks, but most places do have mobile signal, so with mobile broadband you’ll be able to get your gadgets connected to the internet almost anywhere.

Plus, even if public Wi-Fi is available, this isn’t an ideal option. You’ll often have to register, which can be a hassle and mean sharing details you might rather not. Sometimes there are costs involved, often the speeds are slow, and public Wi-Fi is also far less secure than mobile broadband.

O2 specifically is a good choice for mobile broadband because it has around 99% UK population coverage with 4G, along with a rapidly growing 5G network. You also have the option to build a custom plan, with exactly the right balance of data, price, and duration.

What devices are available on O2 mobile broadband?

At the time of writing, O2 stocks four different mobile broadband devices, which is more than you’ll find on most networks.

Its top such device is the Netgear Nighthawk M6, which is the only one of these to support 5G. As such, you’ll get far higher speeds with the Netgear Nighthawk M6 than with the other O2 mobile broadband devices.

It in theory tops out at 3.6Gbps, but that’s the hardware – O2’s network isn’t that fast (nor are any other UK networks), but you’ll still get the highest speeds the network is capable of. This can also get up to 32 devices connected to the internet, and it has an Ethernet port for if you want a more stable wired connection.

It also has a 2.4-inch touchscreen, offers coverage of 1,000 square feet, and has a 5,050mAh battery delivering up to 13 hours of life when in use.

Then there’s the Netgear Nighthawk M1, which tops out at 4G speeds and 20 connected devices, but this is still very fast, and like the Netgear Nighthawk M6 it has a touchscreen.

The Alcatel Pocket Hotspot 4G is a similar 4G device, but it has a lower theoretical top speed and no touchscreen or Ethernet ports. On the other hand, it can get more devices online than the Netgear Nighthawk M1, at 32.

Finally, there’s the Alcatel Dongle 4G. This is a bit different because rather than being battery powered, you plug it into a laptop and it’s powered by that. It also doesn’t beam out a Wi-Fi network – it just brings Wi-Fi to the device it’s plugged into. This is a great compact solution if you just want to get a single laptop online, but it’s less versatile than the other options.

O2 mobile coverage

With O2 you’ll get 4G coverage across most of the UK, as the network has around 99% population coverage. Its 5G coverage is harder to judge and improving at a rapid pace, but at a minimum it has a 5G footprint in over 3,000 UK towns and cities, and over 50% population coverage.

This is all great news, as it means you’ll be able to use O2 mobile broadband almost anywhere in the UK.

Can I get data for the device I already own?

Yes, O2 offers data only SIMs designed specifically for use in mobile broadband devices. These come with a monthly data allowance (up to unlimited data), and as you’re not also buying a device you’ll pay a lower monthly cost.

So if you already have a mobile Wi-Fi router or dongle, just pick up an O2 data only SIM plan and stick the SIM card in your device.

Who else offers mobile broadband?

Three, Vodafone, and EE all also offer mobile broadband devices, so they’re alternate options. They all have different coverage too, so they’re worth exploring if you’ve not settled on O2.