EE Fibre Max 100 broadband

Dan Howdle | November 16th, 2022

Though you may know it best as a mobile network, EE is a contender in the ultrafast broadband market thanks to its partnership with BT. Although full fibre is the next generation of broadband technology, its slow rollout means that ultrafast speeds aren't yet available to everyone. Those looking for an upgrade on their current speeds in the meantime may find a solution in EE’s Fibre Max plans.

Fibre Max 100 is a superfast broadband package which uses technology known as GFast to achieve speeds which are not quite as fast as full fibre, but are an upgrade on your standard broadband connection. Here’s what you need to know, if Fibre Max 100 is available to you.

Key features

Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect to find with EE Max Fibre 100

Who is EE Fibre Max 100 for?

Having multiple devices online in the home can be demanding on your bandwidth. This is, essentially, the amount of incoming broadband available to be shared across your devices. Customers on standard broadband plans may notice that, when the family are gaming online, streaming music, watching Netflix and catching up with friends on a video call all at once, everyone’s connection starts to suffer.

Fibre Max 100 is for those who need an upgrade on their standard broadband package to keep up with data-intensive devices and services, but whose broadband needs aren’t so demanding as to need the fastest of the fast.

Here’s who we think EE Max Fibre 100 is best suited to, and what benefits you can expect:

• Households with 2-4 occupants – For small to medium-sized households, Fibre Max 100 speeds will be ideal in most cases.
• Multiple devices – If you have Google Nests or Amazon Alexa around the home, or have invested in smart lighting, this plan allows countless devices like these to run in the background, without impacting your day to day online activity.
• Uninterrupted streaming around the house – With 4K gaining popularity on TV streaming services, platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime and YouTube demand more of your data, around 20-25Mbps on average. If the family are watching TV on different devices in different rooms, you may experience lag on slower connections.
• Cloud storage – If you like to keep your photos, videos and work documents safe on the cloud, you’ll notice them uploading faster with upload speeds averaging 28Mbps.
• Gamers – Console manufacturers generally agree that 3-5Mbps download and 2Mbps upload are generally good speeds for playing multiplayer games, which is less than you might expect. Current games often have large updates and patches though, which can sometimes take hours to complete on a standard broadband connection, and this is where a plan like Fibre Max 100 will make all the difference.

How does Fibre Max 100 compare?

What's included with Fibre Max 100?

EE’s broadband is completely unrestricted with no hidden download limits or caps, even at peak times. EE is also confident you will receive a minimum of 140Mbps at all times with Fibre Max 100, and the Speed Guarantee promises a £5 discount on your monthly bill if you do experience a drop in speeds that EE’s engineers can’t resolve within 30 days.

All EE’s fibre plans are supplied with its Smart Hub, first launched four years ago. The router is basically identical to BT and Sky routers in terms of what’s inside. The Hub doesn’t support WiFi 6, which is starting to appear in phones and laptops, but the WiFi 5 tech inside is tried and tested, and ideal for the speeds you’ll get with Fibre Max 100.

If you’re experiencing spots in your home where your connection is patchy, you might consider adding an EE WiFi disc – a smart wifi extender which connects to your main router to increase your wifi coverage. You can get this from EE directly.

EE Fibre Max 100 service comes with free installation from an Openreach engineer. In order to reach the speed EE promises, technology called GFast is used to boost speeds between the broadband cabinet and your router. This involves installing a device in the street cabinet, and a modem receiver in your home. GFast isn’t available in all areas, and is no longer being rolled out in new locations due to Openreach prioritising full fibre, so check what speeds you are eligible for in your area, before committing to this plan.

EE Smart Hub router specification

• Reliable WiFi – EE’s Smart Hub uses the same wireless technology, WiFi 5 (802.11ac), found in most routers currently on the market. Though WiFi 6 is now available, it will be some time until it is the standard
• USB Port – The Hub sports a USB 2.0 port, which has multiple uses, from connecting a printer directly to the router, to creating a media server for your home
• Four gigabit ethernet ports – EE’s Smart Hub offers four gigabit ports, which is up to ten times faster than standard ethernet, to extend more stable supply to four devices by wired connection
• Intelligent channel selection – The router will intelligently link your devices to the fastest frequency and channel, ensuring best speeds all round
• Two bands – Another commonplace feature, two frequency bands at 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz prevents low-demand devices from interfering with more intensive activities like streaming
• Seven antennae – The Smart Hub uses seven antennae to boost coverage and reduce dark spots around the home

Extras

EE’s plans are marketed towards young professionals, existing mobile customers and households that need straightforward wifi, so its incentives and extras are limited.

EE mobile customers receive a 10% discount on their broadband bill, as well as a 20GB data boost on their mobile data allowance each month when they subscribe to EE broadband.

EE’s broadband comes with two products by Norton, to protect your family and your network from both viruses and harmful content.

Norton Family is offered freely, allowing you to allocate devices to family members and filter the content they can access on those devices. This is great for keeping young eyes off unsuitable websites, or managing their social media time. You can also install Norton Security Premium, and receive protection from spyware, malware and phishing on up to ten devices, free for one year. After the first year, you will be charged for Norton’s services unless you unsubscribe.

Compare EE broadband deals

What we think

EE’s broadband is good value if you’re looking for something with no frills, and is especially handy if you are an existing EE customer, with a nice discount on your monthly bill. We like the fact that your landline options are customisable too, with a pay-as-you-go option so you’re not paying for minutes you won’t use. EE’s speeds are transparent, and with its Speed Guarantee you can be confident that you’re getting the best out of your GFast fibre plan.

Much like full fibre, the GFast technology that powers EE’s Fibre Max plans is not available everywhere. As Openreach is no longer growing GFast’s availability, if you are not currently eligible to receive EE Fibre Max, this will remain the case for the foreseeable. Check your postcode to see which EE plans are available to you.

If you are eligible for GFast, but don’t need the top speeds available to you, we definitely recommend checking out Fibre Max 100. If your family is larger than average, or if your broadband needs are more intensive, we’d consider EE’s Fibre Max 300 for assured, uninterrupted speeds.