How is my home internet data different from mobile data?

Two data allowances

If you have a home internet connection and a mobile phone with a data plan, the data you use is tracked separately.

The home internet plan has one data allowance, and the mobile data plan has another.

What about bundles?

Some internet providers let you bundle home internet and a mobile phone data plan into a single bill.

Even in this case, the home internet data and mobile data you use are measured separately.

Different types of data

The data your home internet uses comes to your house from the street, just like your electricity or gas supply.

When you use data on a mobile phone, it uses a signal from the nearest mobile phone tower.

One device can use both types of data

Some devices, including mobile phones and some tablets and laptops, can connect to both types of data.

They can switch automatically, based on which has the strongest reception.

Mobile phones and Wi-Fi

For instance, your mobile phone will get data from the nearest mobile phone tower when you are out and about. It can usually also get a mobile signal at home, too.

But mobile phones can pick up Wi-Fi signals as well. You can set your phone to automatically switch to Wi-Fi when you are at home. We can learn how to do this in the upcoming activity, Switching my mobile phone from mobile data to Wi-Fi.

Saving money with Wi-Fi

Switching a phone or other mobile device to Wi-Fi at home will save you from using up all your mobile data allowance.

Mobile data allowances are usually much smaller than a home data allowance and are more expensive too.

eSafety tip

With your phone on Wi-Fi, you can use it at home to browse the internet without worrying about your mobile data allowance.

Well done!

This is the end of How is my home internet data different from mobile data? activity.

In this activity, you learned the difference between home internet data and mobile data, and that your mobile phone can use both types of data.

Next up, we'll take a closer look at which of your devices use home Wi-Fi and which can use mobile data, in the Which of my devices uses which kind of data? activity.