• Even though mobile data is faster than home NBN plans, unless you’re subscribed to unlimited mobile internet plans, using your phone instead of NBN might turn out to be even more expensive.
  • Whether it’s because they’re not convinced to switch to NBN or is simply looking for something more portable, these are some of the things you should consider before using mobile broadband as your main home connection.
  • More often than not, mobile phone plans cost less compared to fixed-line internet connections. This means that you will only need to shell out a meagre sum to be able to connect to the internet.

While most consider using a fixed-line connection technology as the best option for home WiFi, some people consider using their mobile data plans for home use. 

Even though mobile data is faster than home NBN plans, unless you’re subscribed to unlimited mobile internet plans, using your phone instead of NBN might turn out to be even more expensive. 

This is because most mobile broadband plans have data limits. This means that you will need to purchase more data if you plan to continue using your phone at some point. The good news is that several mobile internet providers offer unlimited data plans.

If you use less than 10GB of data per month, NBN might still be the better choice for you. NBN offers a cheaper entry-level price without having to pay for excess data use. 

Whether it’s because they’re not convinced to switch to NBN or is simply looking for something more portable, these are some of the things you should consider before using mobile broadband as your main home connection.

 

Benefits of Mobile Broadband

Using your mobile phone for home use has a number of benefits, which is why more and more people are genuinely considering doing so. Some of the benefits that you can acquire include portability, easy setup, as well as cost-effectiveness.

  • Portability

One of the main advantages of using your mobile phone for home use is portability. This is one great benefit for those who need to move from one place to another because they can simply take their mobile plan with them wherever they need to go. In the same manner, this option is also preferred by tenants who only need to stay in the place they are renting for a short period.

  • Easy Set up

Another benefit of using your mobile phone for home use is it’s quite easy to set up. This means that you won’t need to have a technician visit your place to set up your connection. No hardware needs to be set up. All you need is your phone as well as the device that you need to connect to the internet and you are good to go.

  • Cost-Effectiveness

More often than not, mobile phone plans cost less compared to fixed-line internet connections. This means that you will only need to shell out a meagre sum to be able to connect to the internet. Rest assured that there are various mobile plans for you to choose from, which means that you can still opt to acquire a plan that will be able to fulfil the speed and data limit that you need. Just keep in mind that the cost may vary depending on the plan that you go for.

 

Drawbacks of Mobile Broadband

Like with any other internet plan, there are also a few drawbacks of using your mobile phone for home use. Some of these include unreliable internet connections as well as data limits. This means that you have to closely look into the things that you need to do online for you to be able to ensure that you will be able to subscribe to the right plan.

  • Unreliable internet connection

One of the biggest drawbacks of using your mobile phone for home use is an unreliable internet connection. Keep in mind that with a mobile phone plan, the strength of your internet signal is only as good as the strength of the signal of your mobile carrier. This means that if the signal in your area is not as strong as you hope for, then your internet connection may be dragging and slow.

A fixed-line internet connection is also more reliable because it is less susceptible to certain factors such as extreme weather conditions. With a mobile phone plan, heavy rains or snowfall may already take a toll on your internet connectivity.

  • Data limit

Another drawback of using your mobile phone for home use is the data limit. Most fixed-line internet connection plans already offer unlimited data to their subscribers. This means that you won’t have to closely monitor your data usage for fear of having to exceed a certain limit and pay an excessive amount of money for it.

On the other hand, mobile phone plans often impose a data limit. This means that when you exceed the limit of your plan, your provider may slow your internet down, or worse, charge you with excessive fees because of going over the data limit. Not only is this inconvenient, but it can also be costly.

 

Home WiFi Plans: Things to Consider

When you are still thinking of using your mobile phone for home use, there are certain things that you need to consider such as the total limit of your plan. The more intensive your internet activities are, the more data you need. You should also consider the cost of the plan. While it is true that the more data allocation that comes with the plan, the more expensive it gets, it is also true that you can compare different plans offering the same data cap to ensure that you get the best-priced one.

 

Popular Home WiFi Plans

Tangerine Telecom broadband provider logo
Tangerine Telecom Value Plus Broadband Plan
  • Unlimited
  • 50/17 Mbps
  • Deal: $59.90 for first 6 months, then $79.90 ongoing
Exetel broadband provider logo
Exetel nbn™ Extra-Value Broadband Plan
  • Unlimited
  • 50/17 Mbps
  • Deal: $60.99 for first 6 months, then $78.99 ongoing
Exetel broadband provider logo
Exetel nbn™ Extra-Value Broadband + PAYG Home Phone Bundle Plan
  • Unlimited
  • 50/17 Mbps
  • Deal: $60.99 for first 6 months, then $78.99 ongoing
Superloop broadband provider logo
Superloop nbn™ Family Broadband Plan
  • Unlimited
  • 95/17 Mbps
  • Deal: $69 for first 6 months, then $85 ongoing
Superloop broadband provider logo
Superloop nbn™ Family Broadband + PAYG Home Phone Bundle Plan
  • Unlimited
  • 95/17 Mbps
  • Deal: $69 for first 6 months, then $85 ongoing

The Bottomline

The use of your mobile phone for home use has both benefits and drawbacks. This means that you need to weigh each based on your needs and preferences for you to ensure that you are not wasting any penny on your subscription. This will also help ensure that your plan meets your requirements when it comes to your internet connection. Rest assured that with a little bit of effort in researching your options, you will be able to make a more informed decision.

Need help to find the best options for home WiFi plans? Call us at Compare Broadband! Our experts are always on the line to answer all your questions.