Data only SIM for internet backup

Se99paj

I'm currently upgrading my home network and I'm looking at a new router, there is a router I have as an option that includes a SIM slot, so if/when our internet provider drops out we can use 4G as a backup.

My partner and I work from home so internet access is essential, our internet provider is also pretty reliable 99% of the time so it isn't something that we're going to rely on very often.

I'm looking for a data only SIM with no monthly cost, basically a traditional pay as you go type SIM. But I can't seem to find what I'm looking for, the closest I've seen is Three for example provides a data only SIM for 50GB that last for 12 months for £60. But I guess that £60 would be wasted if the internet didn't go down in the last 12 months 

caprikid1

If it was me, given the monthly cost of something I was not using, if there were two of us working from home at least one of us could spare their sim for a few hours, me and my partner have 4 phones.

caprikid1

I would also suggest that two of you trying to share one sim for e-mail voice and video might be a big ask !

MattMattMattUK

I would suggest if your dropouts are incredibly occasional then it would make far more sense to just tether to your phone if it ever does happen. 

flaneurs_lobster

You would either have to pay for "hot standby" (like the Three £60 you mention) or get yourself a SIM that you could activate with a call/app on your phone when you need to.

Pretty much any supermarket-sourced SIM card that has an unlimited data plan available would do it (eg Smarty £20/month). Just pick the network that has the best coverage where your router is.

A compromise, if the backup HAS to work, is to get a PAYG SIM and keep it active with minimal use as a second sim in your phone, a spare phone or even in your router (does it let you send an SMS?). Just add an unlimited data pack to it if you have to.

Does your ISP offer 4G/5G backup? Be worth costing if they do.

Would also mention that if your internet connection was REALLY that important you'd be sourcing a business-level contract with a business-level service agreement and business-level cost.

molerat

What back up do you have for the power going off ?  Just as likely as your internet going off.  The best / cheapest option would be for at least one of you to have a phone contract with a pretty hefty data allowance to tether to.

MyRealNameToo

Se99paj said:

I'm currently upgrading my home network and I'm looking at a new router, there is a router I have as an option that includes a SIM slot, so if/when our internet provider drops out we can use 4G as a backup.

My partner and I work from home so internet access is essential, our internet provider is also pretty reliable 99% of the time so it isn't something that we're going to rely on very often.

I'm looking for a data only SIM with no monthly cost, basically a traditional pay as you go type SIM. But I can't seem to find what I'm looking for, the closest I've seen is Three for example provides a data only SIM for 50GB that last for 12 months for £60. But I guess that £60 would be wasted if the internet didn't go down in the last 12 months 

So is your home insurance wasted if you dont make a claim? Or your life insurance if you dont die before your mortgage is paid off? 

It's generally a good thing if bad things dont happen but that doesnt mean that having a way to mitigate the impact if it does happen is a waste. 

I would question why you need a router with a SIM rather than simply using your phones as hotspots given you cite work as the reason for it? Our internet has gone down twice in 9 years on an unplanned basis, both times just used phones and didnt have to pay an extra £60 for the pleasure. Also phones can be near the windows etc where signal is strongest whereas the router is in the middle of the property where the ethernet cable is so gets worse signal 

Se99paj

caprikid1 said:

If it was me, given the monthly cost of something I was not using, if there were two of us working from home at least one of us could spare their sim for a few hours, me and my partner have 4 phones.

Unfortunately we both moved to esim's so we don't have anything we can use

Se99paj

flaneurs_lobster said:

Would also mention that if your internet connection was REALLY that important you'd be sourcing a business-level contract with a business-level service agreement and business-level cost.

I completely agree, if we working for ourselves then I'd definitely invest in a business grade service.

The data SIM is only really an option if it's PAYG with no recurring cost or having to keep the SIM alive by sending a message every 6 months.

The absolute worst case is that we'd just tether from a phone if we needed to