Name: Broadband Deals
Brand: Uswitch
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (29760 reviews)

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.

This means that everyone at home can access the Internet simultaneously 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 at home, you'll need a Wi-Fi router, which is 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.

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 depend 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.

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When comparing Wi-Fi deals, here are the key options that you should be aware of:

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. Only about two-thirds 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.

Part-fibre broadband

Available to 98% 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 type of broadband uses a faster type of cable than copper, called 'coaxial', to deliver broadband from the local street cabinet to your home. It can offer speeds of up to 1Gbps (1000Mbps) and is available to around two-thirds of UK homes.

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.

Different types of broadband in the UK explained

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 a few places still lack it.

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.

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Our broadband expert says

“All broadband is wireless first nowadays. You still get the option to use a wired connection for certain compatible devices if you wish, because all wireless routers still have ethernet ports on the back.

But since there are now so many connected wireless devices around the home, providers have prioritised selling broadband with Wi-Fi routers over wired connections for quite some time.”

Max Beckett, Broadband Expert

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 broadband 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. However, 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.

While some providers offer this new technology in their more advanced routers, more basic options on cheap broadband packages on Uswitch usually won't have this capability, so you may have to buy your own router to take advantage of it.

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Browse our selection of low-cost broadband deals if you want to save money on your next broadband service.

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What's the best location for a Wi-Fi router?

To get the best out of your wireless router's signal, you should place it in a clear, central part of your home away from any large or electrical items.

Putting it centrally in your home means that you can make the most of your Wi-Fi in every room of the house. If it's in a far corner of the property, the wireless signal might not be strong enough to reach the other side, so it's most effective if it can evenly reach all parts of your home.

Also, putting it behind furniture or inside a cupboard will immediately block some of its signal. So if you've noticed your internet is slow in certain parts of the house, always make sure your router is clear of any big obstacles by at least one or two feet.

Other electrical items can impact Wi-Fi signal too, so it's best to keep it away from TVs, radios and other home devices.

If you've done all of these things and are still struggling for connection in some parts of the house, you might find a Wi-Fi extender to be useful. You can read more about those in our dedicated guide.

Wi-Fi extenders explained: how to boost your Wi-Fi signal

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 Broadband Hub and Max Hub
BT Home Hub and Smart Hub 2
Virgin Media Hub 5
TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hub

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.

Guide: What are the best wireless routers?

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.

Guide: How to fix internet connection problems

Instead, if you're looking to bring your Wi-Fi connection wtih you, take a look at our range of wireless mobile broadband offers.

Is wireless internet better than wired?

Wireless broadband lets you access the internet from anywhere in your home, on any device, so it gives you more freedom than a wired connection. However, it may not offer the same speeds as a wired alternative, which is something to consider if you need the highest performance.

What's the difference between Wi-Fi and broadband?

Wi-Fi is the most popular way of getting broadband. It essentially means 'wireless broadband', because it uses a wireless router to connect all your devices to the internet at the same time.

This is almost certainly how you already connect to your broadband at home. So Wi-Fi isn't different to broadband — it's just a technology that allows you to use it.

Does wireless internet cut out more often?

Today's wireless routers are highly reliable and should give a level of consistent performance similar to that of wired connections. However, they may have trouble penetrating to every corner of a home, which may mean you need a booster to enhance the signal.

How does wireless broadband work?

Home wireless broadband will need a Wi-Fi router. These are included for free in most broadband deals and come preinstalled with the right settings, so should be simply plug-in-and-play. You can buy your own if you prefer, but you'll have to set it up yourself - your internet provider can provide instructions for how to do this.

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If you want to learn more about how Uswitch works, including how we're able to show you a range of broadband deals from different UK providers, visit our About Us page. On there, we explain how we earn money, who our experts are, how our savings messages are calculated and much more.

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