An electricity outage won’t necessarily cut you off the internet connection. Here’s how you can continue using your internet even during a power cut or an hour-long load-shedding.
Living without the internet is too hard these days. We stay online for internet searches, Facebook and other social networks browsing, watching videos, online shopping, etc. But sadly, the internet requires electricity to work and without it, things can become difficult. And hey, it can be pathetically awful when you are at a meeting online or watching your favorite sporting tournament.
However, there are ways, we can turn it around and continue using the internet even if there is no electricity. That means it will require an additional device to power up your router or ONU device for the internet to work and that might also require some extra costs. Of course, these require some effort but are quite satisfying when you pull it off.
Did you know? Using a dual-band router can dramatically bolster your WiFi speed
Internet without electricity
It’s a reality we live with. The flow of electricity is not guaranteed round the clock. In fact, if you are one of those who can remember a few years back when load-shedding was too regular and established, you would know how affected things were with the internet. Anyway, there is no extended power cut currently, but the outage is still common and we don’t want to get disconnected due to the electricity no matter what!
WiFi runs from the router with electricity. Internet service providers (ISPs) run their cables to a router which broadcasts SSID for us to connect to the internet. A process that is derailed when there is no power.
So, here, we have come up with ways to avoid internet outages when there is no electricity. Let’s cut to the chase:
Ways to use the internet when there is no electricity
Use mobile hotspot
Using a portable mobile hotspot seems to be the most immediate solution to resume the internet connection when the electricity cuts off the power supply to the router. Let’s put it this way. Our mobile phone is kind of a small portable router when we don’t have a dedicated router for the internet.
The good thing about this way is that it’s quite easy to start using. The mobile hotspot feature is available on smartphones both Android and iPhones through the Settings app. You only have to turn on the data and the hotspot option. Then, your phone starts broadcasting wireless signals to which you can connect your laptop or other devices to access the internet.
There are some quibbles too. WiFi through a mobile hotspot is limited in speed and a limited number of devices can be connected to it at the same time. Plus, I would also add that data packs can get exhausted rather quickly if you connect a computer to it as they tend to consume more bandwidth. Therefore, I recommend you have or buy a data pack. Fortunately, there are data packs from both Nepal Telecom and Ncell that can come in handy for hotspot use. I do it every time there is a power outage.
Choose USB Tethering, Ethernet, and Bluetooth
In addition to portable hotspots, USB Tethering, Ethernet, and Bluetooth can be other alternative ways to transmit internet ability from mobile to other devices. In these methods which are also available on smartphones, the first two – USB Tethering and Ethernet require connecting your USB cable of the phone to your laptop, desktop, or other supported devices to get the internet without electricity.
Check out: How to use mobile data on PC or Laptop?
Bluetooth method, as the name suggests, requires your mobile phone and your target device to be connected by Bluetooth for a wireless internet connection.
Pros:
- Easy to activate
- Instant connectivity
- Speed fast enough for basic internet activities for a few
Cons:
- Mobile data can be exhausted rather quickly and could lead to balance deduction too (less of a concern in Ncell thanks to Sadhain ON Data feature)
- Portable hotspots can take a toll on a mobile phone’s battery life
You can even use Wireless home broadband package like Namaste Wifi, or Ncell Wirefree plus home internet solution based on 4G router in such condition.
Use a router backup
Router backup can be an excellent way to keep up the supply of the internet during an electricity outage. It was a rage during the COVID-19 lockdown when the government had us in our confinements for health reasons.
A router backup can power a router for up to several hours to serve you with the internet. Therefore, even if there’s a power outage for construction projects, which is rather common these days, a router backup device becomes an exceptional option. You can find these devices online like UPS for Wifi Router with 3 Hours Backup.
Pros:
- A long-term solution
- Long backup capacity for the router
Cons:
- Can be costly for some
- Not all of these router backup devices can serve for hours
Also recommended: Best place to keep a router for maximum performance
Generators for a long-term solution
Well, the best possible solution to keep the internet on without electricity is to have a generator in place. Although it sounds a bit too much for some of you, businesses, large offices, malls, and apartments would be better served with a generator if they don’t already have one.
Since generators are high-capacity power sources during power outages they are used not just for the Internet, but also for operating offices, businesses, cinemas, etc. The odds are such places already have a generator in place. It’s not actually a preferable option for normal households though. Likewise, solar panel installation could also be an option and it’s eco-friendly too.
Pros:
- Long term solution
- Powers up more equipment than just the router for the internet
Cons:
- Not ideal for households as it takes up space
- Runs on diesel or petrol so can be costly in the long run (solar panel may be more convenient in this case)
- The noise coming from generators might serve as a deal-breaker
Conclusion: The best way to get the internet without electricity?
Internet is indispensable and electricity is required for it but when there is no power, we can use various backup plans to stay connected. If you only need a few minutes of online presence for work that takes less data, a portable hotspot or tethering from a mobile can do the job. If it’s a large office or business we are talking about, you may want a generator as a long-term solution. But in the middle, a router backup device can be one great option that can see off a long hour of power outage while serving you with power for the router.
Related: What Internet speed you need for different online activities
I hope this article has been informative and insightful to you. Do share with us how you generally cope without electricity when you have to use the internet. Also, tell us your best solution to stay online during a power outage.
