The right connection depends on where you live, how you use the internet and how much stability matters to you. Here’s an honest, no-brand comparison.
| Fibre | LTE | 5G | Fixed wireless | Satellite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical speed | Exactly as sold, up to 1 Gbps+ | Varies: 5–50 Mbps | Varies: 50–500 Mbps+ | 10–100 Mbps | Varies: 50–200 Mbps |
| Ping | Very low | Medium–high | Low–medium | Low–medium | Medium (low-orbit) to very high (older systems) |
| Consistency | Excellent | Drops at peak times | Good near towers | Good with clear line of sight | Weather and obstructions matter |
| Installation | Needs fibre in your street | Plug and play | Plug and play (coverage limited) | Antenna on roof | Dish with clear sky view |
| Power cuts | Needs backup for fibre box + router | Router backup only; towers may go down | As LTE | Needs backup for radio + router | Dish uses more power |
| Best for | Most homes where available | No fibre, light use, renters | No fibre, good coverage | Estates, farms, smaller towns | Remote areas |
Fibre
If fibre is available in your street, it’s almost always the best choice: you get the speed you pay for, low ping, and usually uncapped data. Many packages offer strong upload speeds too. The main weakness is power cuts — both the fibre box (ONT) and router need backup power. See our power backup guide.
LTE
LTE routers use the mobile network. They’re quick to set up and good for renters or areas without fibre, but speed depends on signal strength and how busy your tower is. Evenings are often noticeably slower. Placing the router near a window, as high as possible, helps a lot.
5G
5G can match or beat fibre speeds when you’re close to a tower with good signal, with lower ping than LTE. Coverage is still patchy and often limited to metros, and indoor reception drops quickly through walls.
Fixed wireless
A small antenna on your roof links to a nearby tower. Popular in estates, smaller towns and farms. Reliability depends on a clear line of sight and the quality of the local provider.
Satellite
Satellite connects you almost anywhere with a clear view of the sky, which makes it valuable in remote areas. Low-earth-orbit services have much lower ping than older satellite systems. Check availability, licensing and equipment costs in your area before buying.
How to decide
- Check if fibre is available at your address — if yes, start there.
- If not, test LTE and 5G coverage with a friend’s phone on different networks at home, in the evening.
- Run a speed test on any trial or month-to-month deal before committing to a long contract.
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