National broadband review

Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026

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Our verdict

National Broadband suits GB households who want unlimited data and strong uploads but cannot get a wired line. Entry pricing on the longest-contract unlimited plan is £31.99 a month, though a £99 setup fee and a 25 Mbps download ceiling narrow the case for heavy streaming.

Key facts

Best for
Unlimited data with strong uploads where no wired line is practical.
Top download speed (Mbps)
25 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Upload speed (Mbps)
50 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Price from
£31.99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Reference plan prices
Unlimited 4G Broadband 24M: GBP31.99/mo, 25 Mbps avg, 24 months; Unlimited 4G Broadband 18M: GBP34.99/mo, 25 Mbps avg, 18 months; Unlimited 4G Broadband 12M: GBP39.99/mo, 25 Mbps avg, 12 months (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Setup fee
£99 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Mid-contract price rises
Annual increase typically every April based on CPI rate (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Exit fee terms
Early termination charge payable if terminating before minimum contract period ends (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Router
High performance 4G router for GBP99.00 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Address checker
https://share.hsforms.com/1Rsht5ujySICj8tFCVTeOKA300jh (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
GB (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Legal entity
National Broadband Limited (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Headquarters
United Kingdom (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Email (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Technology
Fwa
Contract length
12, 18, 24
Official website
4g-internet.co.uk

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
TrustpilotX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Upload of 50 Mbps is the figure that stands out, sitting well above the 25 Mbps download figure, which helps video calls, cloud backups and sending large files.
  • Unlimited data on every plan in the United Kingdom, with contract lengths of 12, 18 and 24 to choose from, so the term can suit how long you plan to stay.
  • The longest-contract unlimited plan comes in at £31.99 a month, the lowest monthly figure of the plans listed, on the longest term.
  • Support by phone and email covers urgent line faults as well as written follow-up, which suits a service that relies on the kit at home.

Cons

  • Max download of 25 Mbps is modest, and several ultra high definition streams at once sit outside it, well under the 1,000 Mbps typical of this ranking.
  • The service runs on fwa, so it depends on local signal rather than a wired route, which Astound's cable and fttp lines avoid.
  • An early termination charge applies if you leave before the minimum contract period ends, so terms of 12, 18 and 24 carry a cost if plans change.
  • Support runs on phone and email only, so anyone who prefers live chat has fewer options.
National broadband

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Scored 8.2 / 10 by TariffCue.

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Who it suits

  • Households in GB that browse and stream on a limited set of devices rather than several ultra high definition services at once.
  • Remote workers and families moving large files off the home connection, who benefit from 50 Mbps uploads.
  • Renters and movers who want a shorter commitment, since contract lengths of 12, 18 and 24 are available.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Households that want a wired line: Abissnet runs on fttp, and the 25 Mbps ceiling here sits well under the 1,000 Mbps typical of this ranking.
  • Families streaming ultra high definition on several screens: Astound on cable and fttp pairs cable with fibre, while this line tops out at 25 Mbps.
  • Anyone unwilling to pay a joining fee: the £99 setup fee is due before the first bill, which is worth weighing against a wired option such as EarthLink on fttp, 5G and satellite.

What it does well

The number that sets this provider apart is upload, not download. Max download is 25 Mbps, which covers browsing, video calls and standard definition streaming across a limited set of devices, but leaves little room for a household running several ultra high definition services at once. Upload runs at 50 Mbps, higher than the download figure and the part of the package that matters most for pushing large files to the cloud, backing up a home server, or sending big documents for work. Because every listed plan shares the same average download speed, the choice between them comes down to contract length and monthly cost rather than what the connection can do. This is a service built around uploading rather than streaming, which is the opposite of the usual fibre pitch.

Pricing

Prices are quoted monthly and start at £31.99 on the plan carrying the longest contract of those listed. The shorter terms on the same unlimited data cost more each month, so the headline figure belongs to the plan you commit to for longest. The £31.99 entry sits above what many rolling monthly broadband deals ask, which is part of the trade for a line that needs its own router. A setup fee of £99 is also payable, charged before the first bill rather than spread across the term, so joining costs more than the monthly figure suggests. The other unlimited plans trade a higher monthly price for a shorter commitment, which suits anyone who expects to move before the longest term runs out.

Where it sits among rivals

Against the wider field the picture is mixed. On price from it sits at 82 of 95, towards the cheaper end of the range. On setup fee the placing is 85 of 86, the weakest of these measures. Upload is the strong one, at 42 of 46, comfortably above the middle. Max download is the opposite: across the 114 brands compared on that measure, this line sits at the foot of the table. Readers weighing price and speed together should read the ranking as the summary, competitive on what you pay, weak on how fast the connection is, and better than most on what goes out of the house.

Who runs it

The service is sold by National Broadband Limited, registered in the United Kingdom, and that company handles the sale, the hardware and the support line. Support runs on phone and email, so a written question and an urgent line fault each have a route, and there is no live chat in that list. Having a single named company take the order, supply the router and answer the faults keeps matters simple for a service where the connection depends on the kit at home. Anyone leaving inside the minimum contract period deals with the same company on the early termination charge.

How National broadband compares

Where National broadband is available

Available
United Kingdom

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does National Broadband cost to join?+

Entry is £31.99 a month, the lowest monthly figure of the plans listed, and data is unlimited on it. The shorter contract plans on the same unlimited data cost more per month. Every plan also carries a setup fee of £99, so the amount handed over before the first monthly bill is larger than the headline suggests.

Can the price rise while I am on a plan?+

Monthly prices can change while a plan is running: the terms describe a typical annual rise each April linked to the CPI rate. Contract lengths to choose from are 12, 18 and 24, and leaving before the minimum period ends brings an early termination charge. Check the rate in place at renewal rather than assuming the entry price carries over.

Is the download speed enough for streaming?+

Max download is 25 Mbps, which suits browsing, calls and standard definition streaming on a limited set of devices rather than several ultra high definition streams at once. Across the providers in this ranking the median max download is 1,000 Mbps, so this line sits a long way under the middle.

What is the upload speed good for?+

Upload is 50 Mbps, and it is the figure that stands out: this provider ranks 42 of 46 on the upload comparison. That is the spec to judge cloud backups, video calls and sending large files away from the home by, none of which the download figure helps with.

What technology does it use and where does it run?+

Service is delivered over fwa, a fixed wireless connection that relies on local signal rather than a cable to the property, and the provider sells in the United Kingdom. It fits places where a wired line is not practical, and it is not a substitute for fibre where that is already available.

What hardware and setup costs are involved?+

Joining costs more than the headline price. The provider lists a High performance 4G router for GBP99.00 as the kit a new line starts with, and the joining charge is £99. On the longest-contract unlimited plan at £31.99 a month, the first bill carries the monthly figure plus that outlay, so it is worth budgeting for before ordering.

Who is this provider for?+

It fits households that care more about upload speed and unlimited data than raw download speed, and places where a wired line is not an option. A wired route from Abissnet on fttp suits anyone chasing a higher ceiling, while the 25 Mbps limit here tells you the most this line can deliver.

What support is available if something goes wrong?+

Support runs on phone and email, and the company behind the service is National Broadband Limited, registered in the United Kingdom. A phone route handles urgent faults and email handles written follow-up. Anyone who would rather deal with live chat is better served by a provider that offers it.

Sources

  • 4g-internet.co.uk checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Address checker

    “Want to find out what 4G coverage is like where you are?”

  • 4g-internet.co.uk/about-us checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Legal entity, Markets

    “4G Internet is a division of National Broadband Limited”

  • 4g-internet.co.uk/contact checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Support channels

    “give us a call on 03333 447710 or send an email”

  • 4g-internet.co.uk/plans checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Top download speed (Mbps), Contract length, Price from, Reference plan prices, Router, Setup fee, Upload speed (Mbps)

    “Average download speed 25 Mbps”

  • 4g-internet.co.uk/terms-conditions checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Exit fee terms, Headquarters, Mid-contract price rises

    “Early Termination Charge (ETC) is the amount payable when terminating before Minimum Contract Period”

  • 4g-internet.co.uk/why-choose-us checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Technology

    “bringing fast and reliable broadband over 4G to properties”

Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

National broadband

National broadband

Unlimited data with strong uploads where no wired line is practical.

8.2/10See alternatives

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