O2 mobile broadband deals

About O2 mobile broadband

O2 is one of the four network providers in the UK, the others being Three, EE and Vodafone. These main network providers are the only place you will find a decent range of mobile broadband options, with each one specialising in a particular type. For O2 that's dongles.

Unlike its three network operator competitors, O2 doesn't currently offer home broadband packages via its mobile network. You can work around this by buying an portable MiFi (mobile hotspot) device from O2 and keeping it at home, but O2 doesn't offer any device with home broadband router-level abilities, and nor does it offer any dedicated 4G or 5G home broadband packages. It does, however, offer a good range of dongles, as well as data-only tablet and laptop SIMs. Let's take a closer look.

What is O2 mobile broadband?

The term 'mobile broadband' covers an awful lot of ground. It describes any form of broadband/internet provision delivered via a mobile network, and though that also includes your mobile SIM, generally mobile broadband should be taken to mean either a dedicated dongle, mobile hotspot (MiFi) device, or a dedicated 4G or 5G home router, the last of which, as mentioned above, O2 does not supply.

If 4G or 5G home broadband is what you're after, you can find a range of good options from Three, Vodafone or EE. Here is a rundown of the complete mobile broadband offering from O2.

• O2 MiFi devices – A MiFi or portable hotspot device is a gadget, often pocket-sized, that provides wireless internet to other devices within a limited range. These are generally battery operated. O2 offers a couple of different MiFi options, which it describes as 'Pocket Hotspots'. They include the Alcatel Pocket Hotspot 4G and Huawei 4G Pocket Hotspot 2020.
• O2 dongles – A dongle is a USB stick-like device usually (though not always) designed to provide connectivity only to the device it plugs into – this will usually be a laptop. O2 offers three different dongles on both a pay-monthly and PAYG basis. They are the Huawei 4G Dongle with wifi, which as the name suggests allows you to connect additional devices to it, the ZTE MF710M 3G Mobile Broadband Dongle for locations where you cannot get 4G, and the Alcatel dongle 4G
• O2 data-only SIMs – A data-only SIM is designed to go into a tablet or compatible laptop, and differs from a regular mobile SIM in that it does not come with any calling or texting allowances. O2 offers a range of different data-only SIMs with various limits or unlimited data.
• O2 SIMs for mobile hotspot tethering – You can of course use your mobile phone as a router by enabling its 'mobile hotspot' mode. Depending on your mobile broadband needs, your existing mobile, from O2 or from another provider, could be enough, though you might need to raise your data limit, perhaps all the way up to unlimited.

Do I need O2 mobile broadband?

Truth be told there are fewer and fewer places most of us encounter in our daily live where there is no free wifi available, and of course the vast majority of us have a smartphone to fill that connectivity gap where there isn't. However, mobile broadband still has an important role in some situations – where there is no wifi, and a smartphone simply won't do. Here are some situations where you might consider a mobile broadband solution either from O2 or from another mobile broadband provider.

• You have terrible fixed-line broadband – If you simply can't get a decent broadband connection where you live, 4G or even 5G home broadband is rapidly coming a perfectly serviceable alternative. Sadly, though, you're best not picking O2 if this is what you need. Three Broadband, EE and Vodafone all have better options
• You travel for work – If you travel a lot with a laptop, you'll want a better solution than mucking about with your mobile phone as a personal hotspot. Whether as your primary connection or as a failsafe back-up, O2 has the best range of laptop dongles of any provider, including one for 3G when 4G isn't available, and a dongle that other devices can connect to over wifi
• No other options – If you work outdoors all day, in construction or some other related industry such as civil engineering, a permanent or backup connectivity solution in the form of a dongle or MiFi device from O2 could well suit your needs
• You need a temporary solution – If for whatever reason you are looking to fill a few months between contracted home internet connections, a mobile broadband solution can fill that gap. Not least because mobile broadband from O2 and others is available on PAYG/no-contract terms

O2 mobile broadband coverage and data speeds

Despite there being dozens of mobile providers in the UK, there are only four actual network providers – that is to say providers who own and run their own physical network infrastructure (masts and such). These are known as 'MNOs' or mobile network operators. In the UK, these are O2, Vodafone, Three, and EE.

All other providers rent their space on one of these four networks. They lease capacity – a way of providing mobile services sometimes also known as 'piggybacking'. These providers are referred to as 'MVNOs' or mobile virtual network providers, and include the likes of Sky Mobile, BT Mobile and Virgin Mobile, to name but three.

According to the most recent mobile network data speed study conducted by Ookla in May 2022, O2 had the slowest average 4G data speed of 22.22Mbps among the four MNOs. EE topped the table at 46.36Mbps, Three came in second at 34.83Mbps, and Vodafone came in third with an average 4G speed of 31.58Mbps.

5G is still in its early days, but Ookla managed to get some measurements. O2 also came last among the four MNOs, with an average speed of 130.04Mbps. Three came first at 191.50 Mbps, EE came in second with an average speed of 140.16Mbps, and Vodafone came third with 130.57Mbps.

Which other providers offer mobile broadband?

Mobile broadband is rather unusual in the world of broadband provision in that, unlike regular broadband, fibre broadband and mobile SIMs, not every provider offers it. In fact, with one or two exceptions, mobile broadband is limited to the four UK MNOs. Here's a more detailed look at what you can get and from whom.

• EE
• Three
• Virgin Mobile
• Vodafone