Broadband backup: What is it and do you need it?

Dan Howdle • November 29th, 2025

Broadband backup – essentially where your router will switch to 4G/5G mobile data when your broadband goes down – isn't yet what we'd call 'common', but you do have a few choices of provider if it's a feature you feel you need. On the surface it sounds like a no-brainer. A safety net that kicks in when all else fails.

And sure, for some households, that can be a lifesaver. For most though, it’s yet another bolt-on that costs more, and solves a problem you may never encounter. So before you shell out, let’s look at how broadband backup really works, who offers it, and whether it’s something you genuinely need.

What is broadband backup?

Essentially, if your main broadband goes down, a 4G or 5G mobile signal steps in to keep you online. So instead of your entire home coming to a standstill during an outage, your router switches to a mobile network in the background so you can carry on working, streaming or messaging without interruption. At least in theory.

But the way providers offer backup varies a lot. Some only include it on premium packages, others hide it inside wider package upgrades that may include a better router and other features. But no provider currently offers it free as part of a standard broadband deal. Also, backup speeds depend on local mobile coverage, and you likely won’t get anywhere near the performance of your normal broadband connection.

So before we look at whether broadband backup is actually worth paying extra for, here’s a quick breakdown of which providers offer it and how you get it.

Every option that offers 4G or 5G backup requires you to pay extra in some fashion. Either by choosing a higher-tier plan, adding a premium Pro/Halo-style upgrade, or by picking a more expensive package where it's bundled in with a bunch of other perks.

Case in point: Vodafone’s broadband backup

Vodafone is a good example of how broadband backup is offered – in this case only if you're willing to pay for a higher-tier package. It doesn’t come included with Vodafone's standard broadband packages, and you won’t get it on cheaper/slower deals either. Instead, Vodafone only offers automatic 4G/5G broadband backup if you upgrade to its Pro packages.

• Backup included only on Pro – Vodafone’s standard broadband plans do not include any backup; you must upgrade
• Automatic backup – When your broadband drops out for whatever reason, your Vodafone router switches to mobile data to keep you online
• Dependent on mobile coverage – Backup speeds vary based on 4G/5G signal strength in your home
• Comes as part of a wider upgrade – Pro packages bundle backup with Wi-Fi boosters, priority support and enhanced router features. You cannot get backup on its own
• Higher monthly cost – You’re paying for an entire premium add-on bundle, not just the backup feature itself

When broadband backup actually helps

For most people, broadband backup isn’t something you're really going to need when push comes to shove. If your broadband goes down for half a day, most of us can cope using our 4G or 5G connection via hotspot tethering to our mobile phones. So you have to be anticipating longer outages to really make it worthwhile.

Having said that, in certain situations, that safety net can make a very real difference.

• Working from home – Video calls and deadlines don’t wait for Openreach or Virgin engineers
• Homes with smart security – While you may be able to keep your laptop running via mobile tethering, backup means cameras, alarms and doorbells stay connected if your broadband drops out
• Areas prone to outages – Rural or high-fault areas benefit most from an instant backup option, but the more remote you live, the more likely it is you won't be able to get a good mobile signal either

When broadband backup won’t help

Despite how reassuring it sounds, broadband backup isn’t a magic bullet for every issue. It only steps in when your fixed-line broadband completely drops out completely. If your broadband is slow or inconsistent, backup won’t help you at all.

It also won’t mask faults caused by poor Wi-Fi signal inside your home. If the signal is weak in certain rooms, you’ll experience the exact same problems on backup, because the router and Wi-Fi setup don’t change. Backup simply switches its source to 4G or 5G.

So is broadband backup worth paying extra for?

Whether broadband backup is worth the extra money really depends on how critical your connection is and how much you value seamless switch. For some households, an outage is nothing more than an inconvenience – an evening without that latest episode of Stranger Things. Most of us are going to be happy to wait.

For others, especially those working from home, running a small business, or relying on cloud-based tools throughout the day, even an hour offline can feel catastrophic. Backup can provide some peace of mind if that's you. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) over 28% of UK adults now either work from home either full time or for part of the week (hybrid work). So this is becoming increasingly relevant.

It’s also worth weighing up how often outages actually happen. Full Fibre connections are just one hell of a lot more reliable than Standard Fibre is and was according to Openreach, though they do not state by how much. Complete dropouts are relatively rare for most of us.

And since 74% of homes are now able to get Full Fibre according to Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations report, full-scale losses of service are becoming less and less common.

The value question

If you work remotely, handle live calls, or need to be constantly online for your income, the cost of potential downtime may far exceed the cost of the add-on. In those cases, choosing a provider that offers the add-on and erm… adding it on, may indeed be terrific value for money. For everyone else, it’s probably not worth considering until providers start bundling it in for free.

The bottom line

Broadband backup can be genuinely useful, but only for the people who really need it. If you work from home, rely on the cloud, or simply can’t afford unexpected downtime at any point, having a 4G or 5G backup can offer real peace of mind. In those cases, paying a little extra for a package that includes it (or adding it as an optional bolt-on) is easy to justify.

For most households, though, the value is questionable. Full Fibre is already extremely reliable, outages tend to be short, and the backup connection itself is rarely fast enough to replace your main broadband connection in a meaningful way. And since we all have mobile phones we can use as a mobile hotspot, you've really got to have a good reason to opt for a backup add-on instead.

Our advice: Think carefully about what the real risks are to you if you don't have backup as a safety net. If those risks outweigh the additional cost, go for it. In fact, if that's you we're probably teaching you to suck eggs here. For everyone else – that's most of us – it's usually not going to be worth paying extra for.