Other connectivity technologies

Connection via a satellite is now becoming more practical, especially with the advent of more widely available and accessible satellite connectivity for consumer and business use and the increase in number of satellites in orbit. 

To connect you will require a subscription to a satellite data service, a satellite router with an antenna and a device that supports satellite connectivity. Note that the antenna will need to be outdoors and aimed with a clear line of sight at a satellite. 

The end user device then typically connects to this router via Wi-Fi. The router and antenna typically need to be mounted onto a vehicle, and the Wi-Fi signal for connectivity would be available within a limited broadcast range of the vehicle, meaning it may not be possible to use this for indoor connectivity in a patient’s home for example.

The Future Connectivity programme is supporting a number of wireless trials and will be producing detailed guidance on satellite connectivity for the NHS.

These devices can boost or repeat weak 4/5G signals, allowing for devices to connect at a greater range.

These can be useful for enhancing indoor coverage, where there is good outdoor mobile data connectivity but poor indoor coverage a booster can be used to extend that signal indoors where connectivity is needed.

However, even though the range of the signal can be extended it is still reliant on the quality of the original signal for connectivity, meaning that if there is no, or very poor, signal availability for the booster then extending the range of this will provide little to no benefit.

Extra care should be taken when looking at using such as device to ensure that it meets legal requirements and that repeating of the signal is allowed by the network carrier, as some carriers have restrictions on repeating of their signals and there are technical regulations you need to be aware of if repeating the signals of more than one carrier at a time.

A list of approved manufacturers can be found on Ofcom's 'using a repeater to improve your indoor phone signal' webpage.

These boosters are commonly fitted to the sides of building or cars and usually require additional antennas. As such they are not suitable for peripatetic workers to carry around with them or applicable to all care settings.

More information on boosters and indoor mobile coverage in in our Introduction to in building mobile coverage guidance.

Wi-Fi hotspot

A hotspot is a physical location where users can access connectivity via Wi-Fi, via a wireless local area network (WLAN) with a router connected to an Internet service provider. These are referred to as 'Wi-Fi hotspots'. A common application of this is in public areas, such as coffee shops, where access to Wi-Fi is free and publicly available but typically requires some sort of registration and login.

Mobile hotspot

A mobile hotspot (sometimes called a portable hotspot) is a hotspot that use a device to connect to the network, be it 4/5G, Wi-Fi or physical broadband, and broadcast the signal to allow other end user devices to connect to it via Wi-Fi. While a Wi-Fi hotspot is tied to a physical location, mobile hotspots can be created by using a smartphone’s data connection to share mobile connectivity to another device via Wi-Fi. This connectivity sharing is called 'tethering'.

Most modern mobile phones can be set up to act as hotspots, allowing for devices such as laptops and tablets to connect via Wi-Fi to the phone and then access the network. 

Private/home Wi-Fi hotspots

By a private or home hotspot we mean connecting to a patient’s own private connectivity. By a patient’s connectivity we mean essentially any Wi-Fi, broadband, or mobile connection that would enable the delivery of healthcare, that is owned by the individual who is being cared for.

Use of private/home hotspots is subject to local organisations IT and security policies and the consent of the individual. This approach can never be wholly relied upon as patients may not have Wi-Fi (according to Ofcom statistics, 18% of people over the age of 65 don’t have access to the internet at home), patients may not consent, and the process of asking for consent and connecting to the network may not be practical or viable for short visits.

A Mi-Fi device is a portable, battery powered device that acts like a mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot. The Mi-Fi device connects to a mobile data network and then broadcasts a Wi-Fi SSID for end user devices to connect to via Wi-Fi. 

The difference in terminology between Mi-Fi and Wi-Fi hotspot is becoming increasingly blurred as it has become common for all modern Smartphones to have the functionality to act as Mi-Fi devices and provide a mobile hotspot.