How To Choose the Best Backup Internet for Power and Network Failures

By Harry Guinness

Access to the internet is almost essential for modern living. If you work from home, it can be a disaster if your connection cuts out and you can’t access your online files or miss an important Zoom call. If you have a smart home, certain features with your lights, oven or thermostat won’t work as intended. And while an internet connection isn’t always essential for entertainment, nobody wants their favorite show getting interrupted or their gaming time getting cut short by the internet going down. So, what can you do about it?

Well, some internet service providers (ISPs) offer backup internet connections that automatically come on if your broadband service drops out or your power fails. There are also other ways you can make your home network better able to withstand outages. Let’s explore what you need to know.

Reliable and secure connection: direct from Frontier

Great Wi-Fi means you can count on your service to work smoothly and to be protected from malware. We’ve got it all for you. Our Unbreakable Wi-Fi detects network outages, then switches to a backup device so you can stay online to stream, game, make calls, work from home or whatever you’re looking to do. And to keep your everyday connections smooth, we’ve got Whole-Home Wi-Fi, so you can get the best possible Wi-Fi service throughout your home. Ask us about about adding advanced security tools to protect your network and devices at home or away.

Why did my internet go down?

Your internet is likely to go down for one of two reasons:

• An internet service outage, such as a fiber cut
• A power outage

If it’s an internet service outage, you’ll still have power. Your lights will stay on, your desktop computer will keep running and even your TV will keep working. You just won’t be able to connect to anything over the internet.

If it’s a power outage, you’ll know! Everything without a battery—including most internet routers—will turn off. Your internet connection might actually still work, but if your router doesn’t have power, you won’t be able to connect to it. (We’ll look at what to do about this in a moment.)

Regardless of why your internet goes down, there are ways to set up a home internet backup that will keep you online.

What is backup internet service?

An internet backup service, also called failover internet service, is a second, redundant internet connection that automatically comes on when the primary internet connection experiences an outage. Home internet backup services often use 4G or 5G cellular data, so they’re easy to install and aren’t affected by the same kinds of network interruptions. Because the backup service automatically switches between the two connections, you’ll be able to keep using the internet with almost no interruption.

If the backup internet for your home has a battery or an external battery pack, it will also work during a power outage. However, this won’t help any of your devices that don’t have their own battery. You’ll be able to use your laptop and smartphone, but not your smart TV or desktop PC.

Other ways to survive an internet outage

While a backup internet service is one of the simplest and best ways to stay online during an internet or power outage, there are other options.

If you have a fiber optic connection, your broadband will still work during a power outage, as long as you have some way to power your router. A home generator or backup battery will get you back online as soon as you hook it up, though it will only last as long as it has fuel or charge. If you’re in the middle of a big storm, getting your internet back up might be a slightly lower priority than keeping your kitchen appliances or home security devices going.

If you have a 4G or 5G hotspot, or a cellular plan that allows you to use your smartphone as a hotspot for other devices, you can use it as a rudimentary backup internet service. While a regular hotspot won’t come on automatically and may not be able to handle all the devices on your home network, it will at least allow you to keep working and do basic internet tasks.

What’s the best backup internet for home users?

If your ISP offers a backup internet service, it’s a good way to stay online during internet outages. If it has a battery or external battery pack, it will also be able to keep you online during a power outage even if you don’t have a generator.

Because good backup services connect to your router directly and switch over automatically, your whole-home network will stay online. This means that things like your smart home will keep working, as long as all the devices have power.

If your ISP doesn’t offer a backup service, you may get by using a mobile hotspot or a smartphone depending on your cellular data plan. It can help you stay online in a pinch.

If you have a backup internet service and want to be doubly secure, consider getting an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or home generator for your most important devices. This way, even if there’s a power outage, you’ll be able to maintain your online connection.

Frontier Fiber is built for the way you live today—and tomorrow

If you’re still on the lookout for the right ultrafast internet connection for streaming, gaming, working from home and running your smart home—all with enough bandwidth for everyone—find out about Frontier Fiber. Frontier Fiber is available in select areas—check here to see when it’s available at your address. And check out Unbreakable Wi-Fi to stay connected with backup internet that automatically turns on if your network connection goes down.