In short
A good business mobile broadband deal matches the data to real usage, works where your people are, uses the right device (a data SIM in the laptop or tablet, a portable hotspot or a 5G router) and comes with spend caps and usage reporting. Unlimited plans are subject to each network's fair use or acceptable use terms. Prices depend on the network, data, device and term, so ask us for a quote.
Get a quote for business mobile broadband deals
Ask us for a quote and we will reply by email with options priced for your organisation.
What a good business mobile broadband deal looks like
A low headline price is easy to find. For a business, the best deal is the one that still makes sense halfway through the contract. Check:
- Coverage where you use it. A plan is only as good as the signal at your sites, on your routes and inside your customers' buildings. See business mobile coverage.
- Data that matches usage. Size it on what similar users already consume, not on guesswork, and decide whether unlimited is worth it.
- The right device. A data SIM in the device, a hotspot shared by a small team, or a router for a site.
- A sensible term. Long enough to suit the network's plans, short enough to match a project or temporary site.
- Controls. Spend caps, roaming bars and usage reports, so a single heavy month does not become a large bill.
- How it fits your account. Mobile broadband on the same business account as your phones is easier to manage and review.
Our guide to business mobile broadband explains the options in more depth.
Business mobile broadband plans: data, term and devices
Business mobile broadband plans have three parts to weigh up.
Data. Plans come with a set monthly allowance or unlimited data. A set allowance suits light, predictable use such as email and cloud apps on the move; unlimited suits teams that video call, share large files or rely on mobile broadband as their main connection.
Term. Business mobile broadband is paid monthly over a minimum term. The terms available depend on the network and plan, and range from short plans for temporary needs to longer contracts. We confirm the term options for each plan at quote.
Devices. The device can be a data SIM in a laptop or tablet you already own, a portable hotspot, a dongle or a router for premises. Whether a device is bought or supplied with the plan depends on the network and is confirmed at quote.
Pay monthly 4G mobile broadband still suits many places, and most 5G devices fall back to 4G where 5G is not available. If you are buying new hardware, a device that supports 5G will be ready as coverage grows; see 5G for business.
Unlimited business mobile broadband and fair use
Business mobile broadband with unlimited data is popular with teams that cannot predict their usage. Unlimited plans come with each network's fair use or acceptable use terms, and usually apply to use in the UK; use abroad is covered by the network's roaming terms.
Before choosing unlimited, check:
- What the network's fair use or acceptable use policy says
- Whether the SIM can be used in a router or only in a tablet, dongle or hotspot
- What happens when the device is used abroad
- Whether a set allowance shared across the account would cost less for your pattern of use
Networks set out unlimited data in their own terms; see each network's section below. We can help you work out whether unlimited or a set allowance suits each user.
Portable hotspot, data SIM or 5G router
The device decides how the connection is shared, so choose it before the plan:
| Device | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Data SIM or eSIM in the device | One person with a laptop or tablet that has built-in mobile connectivity | The device must support a SIM or eSIM |
| Portable hotspot (MiFi) | Small teams at a site, event or client's office | Battery life and the number of devices it supports |
| Dongle | A single laptop without built-in mobile connectivity | Uses a USB port and is easy to lose |
| 5G or 4G router | A shop, site office or backup connection for premises | Signal where the router sits, and whether you need a static IP |
| In-vehicle router | Vans, buses and mobile units | Installation, power and antenna placement |
For premises, see 5G business broadband and our guide to choosing a 5G business router. For data SIMs in tablets, laptops and equipment, see business data SIMs.
Not sure which plan fits? Ask us
We will match the right plan to your requirements and quote for it.
Keeping mobile broadband costs under control
Prices depend on the network, data, device, term and the number of lines on your account. Here is where the cost comes from:
- Data. The biggest driver. Size it on real usage and review it regularly.
- Devices. Hotspots and routers cost more than a SIM in a device you already own.
- Term. Shorter terms suit temporary needs; longer terms suit permanent ones.
- Roaming. Data abroad can be expensive outside included destinations, so bar roaming on devices that stay in the UK.
- Unused lines. Data SIMs left in retired devices are a common, avoidable cost.
Practical controls help too. Set spend caps or spend limits on each line where the network offers them; mark mobile connections as metered on laptops so large updates wait for Wi-Fi; and use usage reports, such as Three Business's Three Analyst, to spot lines that need resizing. Forever Group also covers telecoms cost reduction.
Three's small print: "See full terms and conditions on Three Analyst."
Business mobile broadband from the networks we can supply
Each network sells business mobile broadband in its own way. We describe them separately and in each network's own terms; we supply EE Business and Three Business, and can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business.
EE Business EE Business offers business mobile broadband on portable 4G and 5G Wi-Fi devices and 5G hubs, alongside business eSIMs and fixed wireless access routers for premises. See EE Business mobile broadband.
Three Business Three Business sells 4G MiFi and 5G MiFi mobile broadband. It says each supports up to 32 simultaneous device connections and up to 8 hours in use, with set-up as simple as inserting the SIM card and charging the hub. Where a Three Business plan includes unlimited data, Three says you can work on the go with as much data as you'll ever need in the UK. It also sells data only SIM plans and 5G Business Broadband for premises. See Three Business mobile broadband.
Three's small print: "Unlimited UK usage. Fair use policies apply in Go Roam destinations. See three.co.uk/terms-conditions for full details."
O2 Business O2 Business offers business SIMs for tablets, which give data but not minutes or texts, and lets you choose a data allowance on its business plans, up to unlimited. For premises, it offers 4G mobile broadband before a fixed line arrives and as a temporary or automatic back-up. We can supply O2 Business.
Vodafone Business Vodafone Business offers 5G-ready data-only SIMs for tablets, dongles and mobile WiFi devices, including unlimited data plans, which it says are subject to its Acceptable Use Policy. It also offers mobile WiFi devices that connect up to 10 devices at a time, data dongles and the GigaCube portable 4G and 5G router, which it says connects up to 64 devices. We can supply Vodafone Business.
Which plans, devices and terms are available through us is confirmed at quote.
Want a price for your organisation?
Tell us your users, sites and timescales and we will come back with a clear quote.
Getting a mobile broadband quote
To quote accurately, it helps to know:
- How many people or devices need mobile broadband, and what they use it for
- Where they use it: regular sites, routes, premises or abroad
- Which devices you already have, and whether they take a SIM or eSIM
- What you use and pay today, if you have existing plans
- Whether you want mobile broadband on the same account as your phones
From that we can suggest the right mix of data SIMs, hotspots and routers on the network that works where your people do. For data only SIM plans on their own, our sister site covers the business data only SIM and mobile broadband SIMs.
Contact us for a business mobile broadband quote.
How Forever Communications helps with business mobile
We help UK organisations choose, set up and run business mobile: plans, SIMs and eSIMs, phones, mobile broadband, 5G and the device management that keeps a fleet under control.
- Start with what you have: we look at your current contracts, end dates, users and devices before suggesting anything new
- Four networks, one conversation: we supply EE Business and Three Business, and can also supply O2 Business and Vodafone Business, so you can choose the network that works where your people work
- Airtime first, devices your way: we focus on getting your airtime costs down, so you can buy iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and other devices separately and set them up to enrol in your mobile device management
- Moving without losing numbers: we help you plan the switch and keep your existing business mobile numbers
- Beyond the phone: 5G for business, mobile broadband and data SIMs for sites, vehicles and backup connections
- Device management and mobile security: MDM and mobile threat defence from vendors such as IBM, Sophos, Check Point, CrowdStrike and Lookout, plus Jamf, Ivanti, Microsoft Teams Phone Mobile and Mobile Voice Recording with EE Business; see mobile device management and security
Forever Communications is part of Forever Group. Ask us for a quote and we will set out the plans and services that fit your team.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a business mobile broadband plan?
Start with where and how the connection will be used: check coverage there, size the data on real usage, choose the device (data SIM, hotspot or router), then the term. Add spend caps and roaming controls, and keep mobile broadband on the same account as your phones.
Is unlimited business mobile broadband really unlimited?
Unlimited plans are subject to each network's fair use or acceptable use terms and usually apply to UK use, with use abroad covered by roaming terms. Vodafone Business, for example, says its unlimited data-only plans are subject to its Acceptable Use Policy. Check the terms before you rely on it.
Do I need a router for business mobile broadband?
Only if several devices share the connection. A laptop or tablet with built-in mobile connectivity just needs a data SIM or eSIM. A portable hotspot shares a connection with a small team, and a router suits premises or vehicles where several devices connect.
Can I get business mobile broadband on a monthly plan?
Business mobile broadband is paid monthly over a minimum term, and the terms on offer depend on the network and plan, from short plans for temporary needs to longer contracts. We confirm the term options at quote.
How much does business mobile broadband cost?
It depends on the data, the device, the term, the network and how many lines you take. Data is usually the biggest factor, so size it on real usage. Ask us for a quote and we can set out the options.
Still have a question about business mobile broadband deals?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.
