What is Nufibre 5G?
Nufibre 5G is a home broadband service that runs over the mobile network instead of a fixed line. Nufibre already sells full fibre and eSIM mobile plans, and ISPreview reported the new 5G service on 26 October.
The idea is simple. A Nufibre 5G router picks up a 4G or 5G signal and turns it into WiFi around your home. There is no engineer visit and no new line to wait for. Nufibre says it delivers next working day if you order by 3pm.
ISPreview reports that Nufibre uses the VodafoneThree network for its mobile services. That matters, because with Nufibre 5G your speed depends on the signal at your address, not on a cable in the ground.
Plenty of people sit on an ageing connection because installing a new one sounds like a faff. Nufibre 5G is one way round that. It is not the right answer for everyone, which is what the rest of this post is for.
How much does Nufibre 5G cost?
Nufibre 5G costs from £22.50 a month on a 24 month plan with a WiFi 6 router, or £25 a month with a WiFi 7 router, according to Nufibre’s own website. Those were the prices shown when we looked, so check the live page before you rely on them.
Nufibre 5G plans at a glance
- 24 month plan: £22.50 a month (WiFi 6 router) or £25 a month (WiFi 7 router).
- 12 month plan: £27.50 a month (WiFi 6) or £30 a month (WiFi 7).
- Monthly plan: £32.50 a month (WiFi 6) or £35 a month (WiFi7), with a three month minimum and a £100 refundable deposit.
Shorter plans cost more each month, which is the usual trade. Take the 24 month WiFi 7 plan as an example: £25 a month for 24 months comes to £600 over the contract. That is simple arithmetic on the advertised price, not a promise of what you would save compared with your current deal.
Is Nufibre 5G better than full fibre?
Not automatically. Nufibre 5G makes the most sense where you cannot get full fibre, or do not want to wait for it. A fixed line does not depend on signal strength the way a mobile connection does, and ISPreview points out that mobile network performance can vary.
Nufibre quotes expected speeds of 100 to 800Mbps. That is a wide range. Where you land depends on the signal at your address, the device and how busy the network is. Our guide to 5G home broadband vs fibre goes through the trade offs in more detail.
Nufibre says its 5G service suits rural homes, renters, students, caravans, short lets and people between homes. It also lists backing up an existing connection as a use. That fits: Nufibre 5G is a quick way to get online, not a like for like swap for every fixed line.
If you are weighing it against a satellite option, our post on Starlink vs 5G covers what one recent study found.
Who is Nufibre 5G for?
Nufibre’s own page points to a handful of situations. Rural homes where full fibre has not arrived. Renters and students who do not want a long wait for a line. Static caravans and mobile homes. Short lets. People moving home who need to be online before anything else is sorted.
It also names people working from home and small businesses, plus anyone whose address has no full fibre or faster SoGEA upgrade. In those cases a plug in router can be a sensible stopgap, or a long term answer if the signal is good.
The WiFi 7 router deserves a sentence. Nufibre lists its wireless capacity at up to 3,600Mbps and says it supports up to 128 devices. That describes what the router can handle over Wi-Fi inside your home. It is not the speed the mobile signal will bring in, which is the 100 to 800Mbps range above.
If you are already happy with a fixed line and a fair price, there may be little reason to move. If you are not, doing nothing has a price of its own, because an out of contract bill does not get cheaper by being ignored.
What should you check before signing up for Nufibre 5G?
Check the data cap first. The plans are sold as unlimited, but ISPreview reports a fair usage policy of 750GB a month. Compare that with how much your household actually uses before you commit.
Then look at the router. You get either a ZTE G5B2 (WiFii 6) or a ZTE G5 Air (WiFi 7). On the 12 and 24 month plans, Nufibre says it charges £100 if you do not return the router. On the monthly plan it takes a £100 deposit and refunds it when the router comes back.
Think about the contract length too. The 24 month plan has the lowest monthly price, but it is the longest commitment. If you are not sure the signal at home is good, a shorter plan costs more each month and is easier to leave. Check the exit terms before you order.
Finally, check coverage at your own address. Nufibre says its service covers 99% of the UK population, subject to availability. That is a national figure, not a promise about your street, and the signal inside your home can differ from the signal outside.
Nufibre 5G is also just one option. Full fibre, part fibre and other 5G home broadband providers may suit you better, depending on what reaches your address. A quick comparison costs you a few minutes. Our guide to what broadband costs is a useful yardstick.
Frequently asked questions about Nufibre 5G
- Do I need a landline for Nufibre 5G?
- No. Nufibre says its 5G broadband needs no fixed telephone line or fibre installation. You plug the router in and connect.
- How fast is Nufibre 5G?
- Nufibre quotes expected speeds of 100 to 800Mbps. Actual speeds depend on network coverage, your device and the signal at your address.
- Is Nufibre 5G really unlimited?
- It is sold as unlimited data, but ISPreview reports a fair usage policy of 750GB a month.
- Which network does Nufibre 5G use?
- ISPreview reports that Nufibre uses the VodafoneThree network for its mobile services.
- Can I use Nufibre 5G as a backup connection?
- Nufibre lists backing up an existing connection as one use for its 5G broadband.
