In this review, we’ll explore whether Vodafone 4G Home Broadband and Vodafone 5G Home Broadband options are a good fit for your family.
We’ll cover everything from setup to speeds, and assess their overall suitability for the typical Aussie family.
Vodafone has been a major player in mobile networks and now offers home internet through their mobile network.
The 4G Home Internet Plan is appealing for its competitive pricing and wireless convenience, especially where traditional broadband might not reach.
Vodafone’s 5G Home Broadband promises faster speeds and lower latency, potentially outperforming some fixed-line services.
However, 5G coverage isn’t as extensive yet, so we’ll look at whether it’s a practical option for you.
By the end, you’ll know if Vodafone’s 4G or 5G home internet plans are the right choice based on your needs, coverage, and budget.
Vodafone Home 4G and 5G Plans
Vodafone’s home internet plans are all about leveraging the power of 4G and 5G, to give you a great alternative to traditional home Internet.
From dependable 4G to lightning-fast 5G, these plans offer different speeds and benefits. But is it right for you or your family? let’s jump into the plans.
Vodafone 4G Home Broadband Plan
The Vodafone Vodafone 4G Home Broadband plan offers users unlimited data with speeds capped at 20Mbps.
Typically, you can expect evening speeds around 15Mbps, though these can vary.
This plan is okay for connecting multiple devices in a household, ideal for browsing, and general usage with social media.
While it provides a solid alternative to slow-speed NBN options, it may not be the best fit for a busy family household.
Consider this: if two or three people are streaming and using the internet simultaneously, everyone at home will likely experience significant lag.
Watching Netflix in 4K requires a minimum of 15Mbps, which almost maxes out the bandwidth of the 4G plan.
For those reasons, I would not recommend the 4G plan, purely based on the max speedS available and the typical data usage in 2024.
Vodafone 5G Home Broadband Plans
Vodafone’s 5G Home Broadband Plans promise a new level of speed and performance, boasting up to 100Mbps.
On paper, these plans seem set to revolutionize your internet experience, with the allure of downloading HD movies in mere minutes.
However, our review reveals some flaws.
While the speed boost from 4G to 5G is noticeable, and the 5G plans offer a compelling alternative to traditional broadband, there are significant caveats.
Despite the potential plan speeds, the upload speeds are disappointingly limited, lagging behind the 100/25 NBN tier, which might be a deal-breaker for those who rely on heavy uploading.
The affordability of Vodafone’s 5G service is also attractive, but it comes with the trade-off of inconsistent availability.
This makes Vodafone’s 5G Home Broadband plans a gamble rather than a guaranteed upgrade. I’d recommend you go for traditional nbn plans if you can!
However, if you can only get these mobile home plans, make sure you get the 5G plan, as the 4G plan simply isn’t worth it.
Vodafone Network Coverage – 4G & 5G Coverage
Vodafone’s network is always expanding, and its traditional network now reaches around 95% of Australians.
However, to take advantage of their 4G and 5G Home Internet Plans, you need to ensure you’re within their coverage area.
Vodafone requires you to verify your address via their sign-up page before signing up. Be sure to check both the 4G Home Internet Plans and the 5G Home Internet Plans to see if your location qualifies.
If you try the 5G address checker first, and it’s not available, it will show you a message like the below, then try to redirect you to the 4G address checker.
While coverage is crucial, it’s also important to note that speeds are capped across all plans.
The maximum speed you can achieve with Vodafone’s Home 4G and 5G plans is 100Mbps, which is typically sufficient for an average household.
Vodafone’s 5G network promises a significant boost in home internet speeds compared to previous generations.
Vodafone Mobile Home Internet Modem Set Up & Costs
Setting up Vodafone’s Mobile Home Internet modem is a breeze, designed for a hassle-free installation process.
However, you need to understand the associated costs and commitments before diving in.
Let’s go through a quick overview of what to expect in terms of setup and financial considerations, helping you make an informed decision about Vodafone’s Modems.
Vodafone 4G Wi-Fi Hub 3.0 Set Up & Costs
If you do decide to go with Vodafone 4G or 5G Home Internet, you need to understand how to set up the applicable modem and any fees.
If you connect to the 4G Home Internet option, you will be supplied with the Vodafone 4G Wi-Fi Hub 3.0. The set up is easy, you just need to switch it on and it should come with the sim installed.
Whilst it’s currently $0 on the plan, signing up to the plan locks the modem into a 24-month payment contract, so if you cancel before 24 months, you will be liable for the cost of the modem.
This could range from anywhere between $50-$150 as one time early termination fee, for cancelling the plan.
Vodafone 5G Home Internet Modem
The Vodafone 5G Home Internet Modem is provided when you sign up to the 5G Home Internet plan, the set up is a tad more complicated, so you need to refer to the Vodafone set up page.
Be cautious with this plan, as the modem is financed over 36 months, costing $612.00 in total. The modem is also Vodafone property as stated in the CIS.
If you cancel before the 3-year period and don’t return the modem, you will need to pay $17.00 for each remaining month.
For example, cancelling after 12 months would incur a fee of $408 ($17 x 24 months).
Conclusion
In terms of their Home Wireless offers, Vodafone has a great 5G option however due to coverage limitations, it is not available to everyone.
There are other competitor offers with faster speeds on the market. For example, Optus are the current kings for 5G Internet speeds in Australia.
While competitors like Telstra and Optus offer faster internet solutions than Vodafone, they come with a higher price tag.
For families, I’d recommend steering clear of Vodafone’s 4G Home Broadband plan, as the data speeds are not adequate for heavy usage.
Overall, Vodafone’s 5G Home Internet plans present a cost-effective option. However, if speed and performance are your top priorities, other providers might be more suitable.
