Mobile Broadband / Data Only Sim vs Phone Sim

[LRamm]

Hi all, I am looking at using a sim for mobile broadband with my current existing lte router but cant seem to find any definitive answers as to the differences between a regular "phone sim", "mobile broadband" or the business equivalents. I need to know if there are any differing limits, data prioritization or device usage limits. Can you direct me to this information?

The only information I can find are various posts in third party forums that are either outdated or anecdotal at best.

Currently, and commonly, the best deals available are on mixed use phone sims. These offer way more at a glance than mobile broadband or data only for less cost. What's going on here?

[Enlli]

What sort of router? Portable, battery type or more permanent wired router.

O2 don't like the use of phone SIM cards in the latter although that may change with the closure of PAYG data only SIM cards

[madasaf1sh]

@LRamm 

I will quite honest you are better looking at data sims for a router, and to be brutally hones the best deals at the moment are from a company called ScanCom have a look on Amazon where you purchase upto 2 years of data... 

o2 data only sims on pay monthly are expensive...

[MI5]

@LRamm 

O2 rules are simple and have never changed.

A router powered by plugging into the mains must use a mobile broadband data sim only.

Battery powered or rechargeable routers (when not being charged) can use any sim.

[LRamm]

Thanks, I have heard this second hand in many locations.

However, I have also heard the contrary. Can you direct me to any links to official policy and potential ramifications. I would argue that the "rules" are not simple as this information is hard to come by when selecting contracts.

[LRamm]

It is a mains, always on router. Again, this makes sense but where can I find official information backing this claim?

[LRamm]

Thanks for the lead, I will look into this

[Enlli · Accepted solution]

From Terms and Conditions 

You must only use equipment or SIM Cards for the purposes advertised, described in any user guides, or as instructed by us. You can’t use an O2 SIM card in or connected to any device or hardware other than the device or hardware it is supplied with.
What to avoid: Using equipment or SIM cards other than as intended. For example, using your O2 SIM card in a modem instead of a mobile phone or tablet or using a mobile phone or tablet as a baby monitor would fall outside this Fair Usage Policy.

[LRamm]

Cheers!