Satellite, 5G or 4G? Choosing Connectivity for a Temporary Site
September 24, 2026
Temporary sites have one thing in common: nobody is going to dig a trench for a fixed line. That leaves three realistic options, LEO satellite, 5G and 4G. Each has a place, and the right answer depends on the site.
The quick comparison
| LEO satellite | 5G | 4G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depends on | Clear sky view | 5G coverage | 4G coverage |
| Affected by crowds | No | Yes | Yes |
| Latency | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Setup | Dish and router | Router, sometimes antenna | Router, sometimes antenna |
| Running cost | Higher | Medium | Lower |
Construction sites
Site offices need reliable connectivity for months, often in places with weak signal because nothing has been built yet. LEO satellite is usually the best primary connection, with 4G/5G as backup. Watch for cranes and scaffolding that may block the sky later in the build, and plan the dish position around the programme.
Events
The key risk at events is crowd load. When thousands of visitors arrive, the local mobile mast is shared with all of them, and card terminals and ticket scanners suffer. Satellite is not affected by crowd load, which makes it the natural primary for event operations.
Pop-up retail
Pop-ups are usually in towns with good mobile coverage, so 4G or 5G is often enough. The questions are signal inside the unit, which an external antenna can fix, and whether payments need a backup path.
Why most temporary sites should use two paths
Temporary sites change. Cabins get moved, generators get switched off, crowds arrive. A router carrying two independent connections, usually satellite and 4G/5G, handles most of that automatically. The extra monthly cost is small compared with a site office or event that cannot work.
Next steps
See our temporary broadband packages, or send us the site details and we will recommend the right mix.
Need a connection for your site?
Satellite, 4G and 5G with published pricing. Tell us the postcode and we will check coverage.