Pre-Ethernet: 5G internet while your leased line is installed

A leased line or Ethernet circuit is the gold standard for business internet, but it can take weeks or months to arrive: surveys, wayleaves, civils and installation all take time. Pre-Ethernet connectivity bridges the gap with 4G or 5G, so you can move in and work from day one, then keep the mobile connection as a backup when the line goes live.

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How pre-Ethernet works

1. Survey: we check 4G and 5G coverage at your address and recommend the equipment.
2. Install: an outdoor 5G unit or a router with an external antenna, plus an unlimited data SIM, connected to your network.
3. Work: your office runs on 5G while the leased line is installed.
4. Switch over: when the line goes live, the 4G or 5G router becomes your automatic backup, or is returned if it was hired.

Keep it as your backup

The equipment is not wasted once the leased line arrives. Set up as cellular backup, it takes over automatically if the line fails, which many businesses want anyway. It is often the cheapest way to add resilience to a new connection.

One simple solution: a 5G outdoor unit and an unlimited SIM

For a lot of sites the answer is two products. The Milesight UF51 outdoor 5G CPE is an IP67 unit with its antennas built in. It mounts outside, on a wall, pole or cabin roof where the signal is best, and feeds the building over one Ethernet cable that also powers it. Pair it with an EE unlimited data SIM and plug the cable into a switch or Wi-Fi access point inside. No aerials to cable up, no coax losses, and no data allowance to watch.

Need something different? We also supply indoor 5G routers with external antennas, bonded connections for sites that cannot go down, and rental kits for short jobs. Tell us about the site and we will recommend the right set-up.

Who uses it

• Businesses moving into a new office or warehouse.
• New retail units, branches and showrooms opening on a fixed date.
• Construction and fit-out projects that need internet before the building's own lines are in.
• Any site where a leased line order has been delayed.

See also site office internet, temporary internet and our 5G FWA and temporary internet overview.

No usable 4G or 5G? Satellite broadband

Some sites have no usable mobile signal at all: remote farms, quarries, wind and solar sites, rural construction, moorland events. For these we supply low Earth orbit satellite broadband, including Starlink and OneWeb business services, with hardware leasing, installation and short-term rental through our partner network. Satellite can also run alongside 4G or 5G, with automatic failover between them, for sites that cannot afford to drop. See satellite broadband for business.

Frequently asked questions

What does pre-Ethernet mean?

It is a temporary 4G or 5G internet connection used while a business Ethernet leased line is being installed, so the site can work from the day it opens.

Is 5G fast enough to replace a leased line for a while?

For most offices, on a good 5G signal, yes. A leased line gives guaranteed speeds, so 5G is a bridge rather than a like-for-like replacement. We check coverage first and tell you what to expect.

What happens when the leased line is ready?

Your network switches to the leased line. The 4G or 5G equipment can stay as an automatic backup, or be returned if it was hired.

Can you work with our leased line provider?

Yes. The 5G router simply connects to your network or firewall, whichever provider supplies the line.