4G - 5G wireless WiFi modems
Almost every internet plan in Australia includes a modem-router, which combines both modem and WiFi router functions in a single device. NBN plans often have separate modem and router devices. Plans based on 4G-5G mobile technology come with a portable WiFi modem-router with SIMs. Let's look at the portable modems offered by the biggest ISPs on mobile internet plans in 2024.
| 4GX Hotspot | USB-C, 2.4GHz WiFi | $144 |
| 5G Hotspot | USB-C and USB-A, 2.4 and 5GHz WiFi | $319 |
| 5G Nighthawk M6 | Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet port | $624 |
| 5G Nighthawk M6 Pro | $840 |
| 4G Lite + 15GB Data | USB-A, 2.4GHz WiFi | $69 |
| 4G Portable + 50GB Data | $99 | |
| 5G Nighthawk M6 | Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet port | $639 |
| Tenda 4G185 4G LTE | $69 |
| Vodafone 4G Pocket WiFi | $67 |
You also could use a phone as a router, called WiFi tethering.
4G - 5G wireless internet prices
These are probably the best wireless internet plans in Australia. Some other ISPs offer better per month prices although for fewer data and less speed coverage. On average, a person spending hours per day online and watching Netflix needs less than 100Gb per month. If you only check emails and browse the internet you may get away with less than 25Gb per month.
| plan | data | per month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | 5G Medium | 75Gb | $58 |
| 5G Small | 30Gb | $20 | |
| Optus | 20Gb 5G data sim | 20Gb | $20 |
Portable modem price is usually not included in the plan. You may use an old smart phone as the portable 4G-5G WiFi modem.
For more data, you can share data with mobile plans. For example, you could have a data SIM for $25 and a mobile phone plan with 500GB for $60, thus having 525Gb mobile and WiFi internet for a total of $85.
5G speeds varies depending on location and your modem. Theoretically 5G speeds may achieve 1Gbs. On practice it is around 350Mbs in a good location on Optus or Telstra 5G router. You can estimate speed of the 5G internet at your location by simply measuring speed on mobile phone of the same provider.
| plan | data | per month | modem | speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telstra | 5G Home | 1Tb | $85 | no | up to 317Mbs |
| Optus | 4G Home | Unlimited | $64 | included | 100Mbs |
| 5G Home | $74 | up to 1Gbs |
Fixed wireless internet requires a 5G modem-router connected to the main power. It looks like usual WiFi modem. For better reception 5G modem should be located closer to the window and upper levels of the house.
Modem price is usually included in the plan. You cannot use phone as a WiFi router on fixed wireless plan.
While the comparison above is provided with the best accuracy for the time period, please verify current prices with your ISP.
WiFi vs wireless internet
Both WiFi and mobile 4G-5G are wireless technologies that transmit data over the air. But a 4G - 5G mobile network is a public internet, while WiFi is your private network created by your router. WiFi by itself is not the internet. It needs a connection to the public internet via an NBN modem and to the wall OR a wireless modem with a SIM card. More often, the modem and WiFi router are in one piece.
| WiFi | 4G - 5G wireless broadband | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to a transmitter | 1-30 meters | up to a few kilometres |
| Transmitter | WiFi router owned by you | Tower owned by mobile network provider |
| Maximum speed | 900 Mb/s | 10-1000Mb/s |
It seems like WiFi provides a better connection speed. But WiFi connects only from your computer/iPad to the router. The overall speed is limited by the link to the internet provider. In the case of ADSL connections, the internet and speed is limited by the phone line, not the router. A typical ADSL speed is only 10Mb/s. Typical NBN speeds are around 20-50Mb/s. That is why even brand new expensive WiFi routers may not improve internet speed much.
Modems and types of the internet connection
Depending on the type of connection to the internet there are a few types of modems in Australia; DSL NBN (via phone line), HFC NBN (via coax cable) and mobile 4G - 5G. Again they call mobile 4G network - just "wireless network". So the router with a WiFi connection to a computer and mobile 4G connection to the internet can be called a Mobile 4G WiFi router. Mobile 4G WiFi routers can be fixed and connected to the main power or movable and work on battery. The battery ones BigPond called Pocket WiFi Modems. Optus calls Mobile 4G WiFi routers Mini WiFi Modem. Regular WiFi routers can connect up to 255 WiFi devices, but some Telstra and Optus mobile WiFi routers are limited to 10 - 20 simultaneous devices.
Tethering - Smartphone as a portable WiFi modem
You can use a smartphone as a portable WiFi router - no need to pay for another mobile 4G internet account. Just turn on the WiFi hotspot in Android or Personal Hotspot in iPhone to share an internet connection. There is also USB tethering for secure connection via USB without WiFi. If you already have an iPad with 4G, you can use it as a WiFi router. When tethering a device to your phone, one thing to remember is the data limit. Most mobile accounts come with at least 5Gb of data which is enough for internet browsing and emails, but you need more data if you download a lot. A movie download can exceed 10Gb.
You also can combine the mobile phone and the 5G internet plans. For example, as of June 2024, you can have an Optus $500Gb mobile plan for $69 plus a $20 SIM card 20Gb for 5G portable WiFi modem. That gives you unlimited mobile calls and 520Gb per month data altogether and delivers up to 1Gbs internet on the same day, no waiting NBN connecting wires.
If you want mobile internet even faster than 1000Mb/s, you'd need a 5G. Although Optus and Telstra cautiously guarantee only 50Mbs on 5G plans, with an average speed over 300Mbs. All wireless modems are modems and routers in one, no need for the second router. However, you will need a network switch to connect a few computers to such modems. Most wireless Telstra modems are portable and have a battery.