By BT’s Hybrid Connect gives you ‘unbreakable Wi-Fi’ with a backup for your BT Broadband service, powered by EE’s 4G network.
In the UK, BT now offers Hybrid Connect which is a feature you can add to any of their broadband plans for an extra £7/month.
Hybrid Connect gives you a 4G-based backup for your BT fibre broadband connection. It kicks in and activates automatically if there’s ever a fault with your fibre broadband connection, meaning you’ll stay connected and online whatever happens to it. According to BT, this makes it the UK’s “only unbreakable home wi-fi connection”, giving you reliability and peace of mind that isn’t available elsewhere.
In this article, we’ll review BT’s Hybrid Connect service. We’ll start by looking at how Hybrid Connect works, how you can get it and the benefits of using it. We’ll also look at BT’s latest fibre broadband deals and how you can switch from your current broadband provider to BT.
| Prices From: | £7 per month (plus your BT fibre broadband plan) |
|---|---|
| Best Offer: | £50 reward card (available on Fibre 1 with Hybrid Connect) |
| Contract Length: | 24 months |
| Key Features: |
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| Coverage: | Selected postcodes with EE 4G coverage (check your postcode) |
Contents
What is BT Hybrid Connect?
Over the past year, we’ve been spending more time at home and our broadband connections have become even more vital.
From working at home to home schooling our children, and from streaming TV shows and movies to playing games online with our friends, it’s never been more important having a reliable broadband connection that keeps you connected to the internet.
Hybrid Connect is a new service for BT Broadband customers in the UK which combines their fibre broadband service with a 4G-based backup connection from EE. Should a fault be detected with your fibre broadband service, the Hybrid Connect backup will kick in automatically to keep you connected to the internet.
A major benefit of the Hybrid Connect service is it works seamlessly and transparently with your Smart Hub 2 router. The 4G-based backup kicks in automatically in less than 90 seconds and all of the devices on your network will stay connected without you needing to lift a finger (there’s no faff needing to sign in all of your devices again to a different Wi-Fi network). Furthermore, you’ll still be able to use features like BT Complete Wi-Fi which gives you a guaranteed Wi-Fi connection in every room of your home.
If you’re moving home or changing broadband provider, Hybrid Connect also helps you to get connected to the internet more quickly. You can be online and connected in as little as one day, even before your fibre broadband service has been installed.
How To Get BT Hybrid Connect
To get Hybrid Connect, start by choosing your new BT Broadband plan online. You can get fibre broadband from BT for as little as £29.99 per month, with a range of offers currently available like a £50 reward card on BT's Fibre 1 plan.
Get BT Broadband with Hybrid Connect →
Once you’ve chosen your BT Broadband plan, tap the button to “customise your package”. You’ll then be given the option to add Hybrid Connect for an extra £7/month during the checkout process.
You can also add other features to your BT Broadband plan during checkout such as BT Complete Wi-Fi for an extra £10/month or BT TV from an extra £12/month (depending on the TV package and the channels you choose).
You can also get Hybrid Connect as part of a BT Halo 3+ package.
Hybrid Connect Features
‘Unbreakable’ Wi-Fi
According to BT, Hybrid Connect gives you the “UK’s only unbreakable home wi-fi connection”. That’s because it can keep all of your devices connected to the internet, even if there’s a fault with your fibre broadband connection (e.g. due to a damaged phone line, a fault at the cabinet, poor weather, etc).
Compared to using a separate 4G mobile broadband connection for backup, you’ll get a far more seamless experience when using Hybrid Connect. That’s because all of your devices remain connected to your normal Wi-Fi network – there’s no hassle switching between different networks. That means all of your laptops, tablets, mobile phones, smart TVs and smart home devices including cameras, doorbells and thermostats will just continue to work without you needing to lift a finger. It’s also cheaper than using a separate mobile broadband connection for backup as the £7/month fee already includes all of the data you’ll use through the service.
You can tell the Hybrid Connect service is in use when the light on your BT Smart Hub 2 turns purple. In addition, the signal bars on your Hybrid Connect device will turn white.
Get Online The Next Day
Another benefit of Hybrid Connect is the ability to get connected to the internet in as little as one day. Normally, when you’re moving home or changing broadband providers, it can take around two weeks to get your new fibre broadband service set up (sometimes a little bit longer e.g. if an engineer visit is required).
If you place your BT Broadband and Hybrid Connect order before 3pm, BT will dispatch your new Hybrid Connect device the same day. This includes 24-hour delivery and you can get connected to the internet as soon as your new Hybrid Connect arrives.
When your fibre broadband service is up and running, the Hybrid Connect device will work together with your Smart Hub 2 router. You’ll switch to using fibre for your main broadband connection but the backup of a 4G broadband connection will still be there for when it’s required.
BT Complete Wi-Fi
The Hybrid Connect service is compatible with BT’s Complete Wi-Fi service.
Complete Wi-Fi gives you a guaranteed Wi-Fi signal in every room of your home, making use of the latest mesh networking technology.
You’ll get a Smart Hub 2 router, together with up to 3 Wi-Fi Discs that extend the range of the Wi-Fi network through your home. If you’re still unable to get a minimum download speed of at least 10Mbps in every room of your home, BT will give you £100 back as part of their Complete Wi-Fi Guarantee.
If your broadband service switches over to use the 4G connection from your Hybrid Connect, you’ll still be able to use your Complete Wi-Fi system and discs as normal.
4G Coverage From EE
Behind the scenes, the Hybrid Connect service is powered by EE’s 4G mobile network. This is used to keep you online if there’s a fault with your regular broadband connection.
According to BT, the Hybrid Connect service is currently available to around 85% of their customers. You’ll need to be in an area “with eligible 4G signal strength” and this will be checked automatically before Hybrid Connect is offered to you as an add-on.
When you’re using the 4G backup connection on your Hybrid Connect, you’ll be able to get download speeds of up to 30Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5Mbps. That’s fast enough for most things you’d want to do with your home broadband (browsing, streaming, video calls, etc) but it’s likely to be a little bit slower than your regular service.
To optimise the performance of your Hybrid Connect device, you can move it to a location with a stronger 4G signal. BT recommends that you find a location that’s well ventilated, raised from the floor and away from other electronics. You’ll often get a stronger 4G signal when you place the Hybrid Connect close to a window.
BT Broadband Plans
At present, BT offers a range of fibre broadband plans from £29.99 per month.
The following table shows BT’s latest fibre broadband offers:
| Service | Average Speed | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price (may rise during contract) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fibre 1 | 50Mbps download | 24 month contract | £0 | £29.99/month with £50 reward card |
Fibre Essential | 36Mbps download | 24 month contract | £31.99 | £33.99/month |
Fibre 2 | 67Mbps download | 24 month contract | £31.99 | £36.99/month with £50 reward card |
In addition, if you’re living at one of 4 million addresses with access to full fibre (FTTP) broadband, you’ll also have access to BT’s Full Fibre plans:
| Service | Average Speed | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price (may rise during contract) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Fibre 100 | 150Mbps download | 24 month contract | £0 | £29.99/month with £50 reward card |
Full Fibre 500 | 500Mbps download | 24 month contract | £0 | £34.99/month with £50 reward card |
Full Fibre 300 | 300Mbps download | 24 month contract | £31.99 | £44.99/month with £50 reward card |
Full Fibre 900 | 910Mbps download | 24 month contract | £31.99 | £59.99/month with £50 reward card |
You can add Hybrid Connect to any of these broadband plans from BT.
To check the availability of different plans at your address, use the availability checker on BT’s website. This will also show you the expected download speeds where you live.
Switching to BT Broadband
If you’re changing your broadband provider from another company to BT, it’s easy to switch your broadband service over.
Start by ordering your new broadband plan from the BT website. You’ll be given the option to customise your package. This is where you can add Hybrid Connect, or other features like BT Complete Wi-Fi and BT TV.
Your new Hybrid Connect device will be sent out to you the same day, providing you order before 3pm. It can be used to get online whilst you’re waiting for your main broadband service to go live.
On the date that your main BT Broadband service goes live, you can setup your new BT Smart Hub 2 router.
In most cases, it isn’t necessary to separately cancel your old broadband service. This is because BT will normally do this for you automatically. However, if you’re a customer of Virgin Media, or another provider that doesn’t use the Openreach network, you’ll need to contact your old provider to cancel your service.
For step-by-step instructions on how to switch to BT Broadband, please select your current broadband provider from the drop down menu below:
Switch to BT Broadband
Your step-by-step guide to switching
You can also read our in-depth guide to switching home broadband provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is BT Hybrid Connect? | Hybrid Connect is an optional add-on for BT’s home broadband service. It provides you with a 4G-based backup that will kick in automatically should there be an issue with your fibre broadband connection. This will happen automatically within 90 seconds of a fault being detected. |
|---|---|
| How does Hybrid Connect give you unbreakable wifi? | BT says the Hybrid Connect gives you an “unbreakable home wi-fi connection”. That’s because you’ll stay connected to the internet even when there’s a fault with your fibre broadband service (e.g. due to a damaged phone line or a fault at the cabinet). It does that by using 4G as a backup connection. |
| How much is Hybrid Connect? | There are two ways to get Hybrid Connect:
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| How does Hybrid Connect compare to 4G home broadband? | Hybrid Connect gives you a 4G-based broadband connection that should only be used as a backup for your fibre broadband connection goes down. The 4G service isn’t intended to be used as your main connection. If you want to use 4G as your main connection, you should get 4G home broadband instead (currently available from £22/month). |
More Information
For more information about Hybrid Connect, please see BT’s official website. You may also find it of interest to read our full guide on BT Broadband.
Barry 3 said:
This may sound like a stupid question, but I can’t find any information anywhere.
This thing advertises unbreakable ‘Wi-Fi’, but what about the devices I have connected to my smart hub via ethernet only? Will they stay connected through the hybrid box too?
Mike said:
when the hybrid switches from bt to ee is there any charge for using ee mobiles network
Ken replied:
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your comment. All of your data usage on the 4G Hybrid connection is included as part of the service 🙂
Ken
Dimitrios said:
hey, quick question here, i tested the EE hybrid and worked fine, but when i put the ethernet cable back to the BT smart hub it still continued giving internet from the 33 hybrid? does it not automatically to the BT internet line after internet restored? i had to turn off and on the hub?
Barry replied:
Interesting no response yet?
Can confirm just carried out same simulated test myself, with identical result!
Since Hybrid is supposed to be an interim fix, how are we supposed to know internet has been restored if the gimmick just carries on regardless without switching us back?
Barry replied:
Addendum to above.
Have now discovered by trawling through BT Community forum.
Someone with more patience than us performed same test.
The damn thing DOES switch back, but after 20mins!
Adrian replied:
Just did exactly the same test. I can confirm it takes around 20 mins for Hybrid lights to turn back to blue. It happened at exactly the same instant I read your Addendum.
Amy said:
Real idiot question but I used to rely on a Vodafone sure signal box at home to boost the Vodafone signal for my mobile. Since stopping that service they have advised using WiFi calls over your mobile instead. So If I have BT Hybrid connect and the broadband goes down, does this mean that I would be using my Vodafone mobile service on WiFi calls but over EE? Does that work? I can’t see why not but it seems counterintuitive.
Ken replied:
Hi Amy,
Yes, in that scenario, that is exactly what would happen! As far as your mobile phone & Vodafone are concerned, it’s just a Wi-Fi connection – it makes no difference whether that data is being carried from your router to the internet by a 4G connection or by fibre.
Hope this helps,
Ken
jason ball said:
does the hybrid work with non bt router? Such as ASUS
Michael said:
Does anyone know if you used Hybrid Connect and your smart hub goes down, does the 4G box send internet to the smart hub to keep the devices on the ethernet ports working, or does it only support WiFi devices connected to the smart hub. Thinking about getting this for my buisness but my card machine is not WiFi supported and is powered by ethernet, so would be handy if the Hybrid Connect would still be able to power my card machine IF the smart hub were to lose connection.
Chris replied:
I’m trying to work this out, but so far appear unable to try and simulate an outage. Unplugging the WAN turns the SH2 purple, and bars white – but BT keep staying the Hybrid Connect will only kick in if there is a genuine outage – which sounds somewhat ficticious.
Barry replied:
Quote from https://www.techadvisor.com/review/bt-hybrid-connect-3809297/
“Although devices connected to the Smart Hub 2’s Ethernet ports will continue to have an internet connection, you won’t be able to watch any subscription TV channels that are streamed over broadband as part of your plan. So, Sky and BT channels will stop working, but you will still be able to use a BT YouView set top box (for example) to watch live TV and use other streaming apps including BBC iPlayer.”
Olivia Brady said:
hello, can anyone tell me if im able to use a hydrid connect without having an actual broadband box please?
Jonathan Webb said:
Ken, what fantastic website! I was about to set-up a 5G backup for my temperamental broadband only to discover on here that BT Halo 3+ does that automatically. Really appreciate your help…
Jeff pullen said:
Very disappointed with the Hybrid
and would strongly advise anyone considering having it to think twice.
I was assured by the BT sales team that the ‘unbeatable’ Hybrid would ensure we always have an internet connection. However, only two days after the hybrid was installed our internet crashed. As a result, we were without any internet access whatsoever for four days. This has caused a considerable amount of stress and anxiety to our family not least because our disabled daughter relies on the internet connection as part of her online degree studies and to switch on appliances using voice activated appliances,
Val Quayle said:
Will hybrid connect keep us going for the 5 days until bt estimates it will have the fault repaired.
Is there any time limit or limit on amount of use?
My daughter has on line exams for uni and is extremely worried about deadlines. Bt have said external fault on network. We urgently need reassurance please
Ken replied:
Hi Val,
It should be unlimited and I’m not aware of any limit on the use. However it might be worth double checking this directly with BT if you want to make sure that’s definitely the case.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Val Quayle replied:
That’s really helpful. Thanks Ken
ken brooks said:
hi we have very bad broadband 0.7 to 2 mbps have decided to try 4g modem as mbps range from 30-950 .
do you think this is the best track to be on. we do not have fibre nearest green box 4.5 mile
as i read things hybrid works with fibre only regards k
Ken replied:
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I think 4G home broadband is definitely worth a look at – you can see my full guide to the best 4G home broadband deals here. With regards to Hybrid Connect, this probably isn’t suitable for your usage. It’s only designed to be used as a backup for when your fibre broadband service goes down. Additionally, it’s restricted to a maximum speed of 30Mbps which is slower than the maximum speeds you can get from a dedicated 4G broadband service.
Hope this helps,
Ken
JB replied:
Hi, does this mean that it should not be plugged in & connected until the BT Broadband goes down?
Ken replied:
Hi JB,
You’re supposed to leave it plugged in so that it will automatically switch to 4G if the fibre goes down. What they don’t allow you to do is to use 4G as your main connection for an extended amount of time.
Hope this helps,
Ken
alison greenhalgh said:
I was afvised to get a BT Hybrid connect device to give me internet using my 4g through my phone at my new address being renovated that I stay at some days. I still live at my main address (miles away) until it’s finished. I have BT wifi at my main address but i’m struggling to set the hybrid set up at the new property. I have no internet there yet or even a line into the house (it is a building site) but was told the Hybrid could save me having 2 full bt internet lines at 2 addresses. WHen the house is finished and we move in (about 2 months) we will transfer this existing contract over to there as it still has 19 ,months to run. Any help with setting the Hybrid up and syncing our devices to it would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Alison
Ken replied:
Hi Alison,
Thanks for your comment. I believe this is a potential use case for Hybrid Connect but unfortunately, I’m not able to give any technical assistance on that! I’d recommend getting in touch with BT’s Customer Support team, or you can book one of their Home Tech Experts if you’re a BT Halo customer.
Ken
John Watson said:
I have poor broadband speeds using BT Halo 3 deal and discussed this with a BT advisor today. He suggested I could go to Hybrid Connect and use it as a hub for 4G broadband by switching off my BT Smart Hub 2. Is this correct?
Ken replied:
Hi John,
Thanks for your comment. I don’t believe you’re supposed to ‘switch off’ the fibre broadband connection to use 4G broadband as the main connection method. You’d probably be better served by getting a dedicated 4G home broadband service as they’re actually designed to be used in that way.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Rob Marchetti said:
Does hybrid connect support wired ethernet connections plugged directly into the smart hub!
Nick Siminson said:
Hi as my broadband speed via BT copper cable ( I mile to green cabinet) is slow about (8 Mbps up and 1 down) if I used the Hybred Connect would it used 4 g all the time to get a faster speed or only kick in when there was a fault on the copper cable? If not could I change the settings on my home hub to ignore the cable and always use 4g? Nick.
Ken replied:
Hi Nick,
Thanks for your comment. I believe it will still prioritise the copper broadband connection if available. I don’t believe the Hybrid Connect is meant to be used as the main connection – I imagine it would probably flag up on BT’s end if this were to happen. BT do have a dedicated 4G home broadband service for this purpose, though it is a little more expensive at £45/month. Alternatively, you could look at alternatives like Three Broadband which is available for just £17/month at present.
Hope this helps,
Ken
richard boon said:
Does the hybrid connect produce an improved tv picture, ie enhanced resolution.
Ken replied:
Hi Richard,
Thanks for your comment. Your Hybrid Connect device will not affect the picture quality on your TV. It simply provides a 4G-based backup for your BT fibre broadband connection so you’ll remain connected even if your fibre broadband goes down.
Hope this helps,
Ken