How to Keep Internet On During a Power Outage (2026)
Your modem uses about 10 W, but the network outside may go down too. Runtimes on battery, and when a 5G backup router or Starlink is the real fix.
Updated October 28, 2026 · By the OutageWatt team · How we calculate
In short
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Two different problems
Inside the house: your modem and Wi-Fi router stop the second the power does. That part is cheap to solve: they draw about 10 W together, less than a single light bulb used to.
Outside the house: cable and fiber networks rely on powered equipment in street cabinets and at the provider's hub. That equipment usually has backup batteries, sometimes generators, but how long they last varies by provider and by neighborhood. If your internet drops even with the modem on battery, the problem is upstream and no battery at home will fix it. That is where a cellular or satellite backup earns its keep.
How long each setup runs on battery
| What stays on | 256 Wh | 1,024 Wh | 2,048 Wh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable/fiber modem + Wi-Fi router10 W | 23 h | 3.8 days | 7.5 days |
| 5G backup router (Spitz AX, max draw)14 W | 16 h | 2.7 days | 5.4 days |
| Starlink Mini40 W | 5.6 h | 23 h | 45 h |
| Starlink Standard dish100 W | 2.3 h | 9.0 h | 18 h |
Battery only, 88% inverter efficiency, the planner's method. A 12 V router fed from a station's car port skips the inverter and lasts a little longer.
Our pick for fridge, Wi-Fi and lights, the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2, keeps the modem on for about 3.8 days if that's all you plug in. Next to a fridge, Wi-Fi barely changes the total: see the fridge guide.
The backup that doesn't depend on your provider
A 5G router takes a SIM card and turns cellular data into home Wi-Fi. Cell sites typically have their own backup power, so they often stay up when cable cabinets don't, though nothing is guaranteed in a regional disaster. Check coverage at your address and pick a data plan before storm season, not during it.
The Puli AX (GL-XE3000) has a 47.4 Wh battery built in. At its maximum rated draw of 14 W that is at least 3.4 h on its own (our calculation; GL.iNet doesn't publish a runtime), and much longer from a power station.
★ Our pick to keep a house online
GL.iNet · 5G
Spitz AX (GL-X3000)
Home-style 5G router with external antenna ports: plug a 12 V cable into a power station's car port and skip the inverter.
Max 14 W · 12 V DC barrel (DC5521) · datasheet
$379.99gl-inet.com, Oct 27, 2026
Check price
GL.iNet · 5G
Puli AX (GL-XE3000)
Same 5G class with its own battery: the internet stays up through the first hours with nothing else plugged in.
Max 14 W · 12 V DC barrel (9–16 V) · 6,400 mAh / 7.4 V built-in battery; GL.iNet doesn't publish a runtime · datasheet
$409.99gl-inet.com, Oct 27, 2026
Check price
GL.iNet · 5G
Mudi 7 (GL-E5800)
Pocket 5G hotspot that charges over USB-C: runs from any power bank or station USB port.
Max 30 W · USB-C PD/PPS, 5–12 V · 5,380 mAh built-in battery, up to 13.5 h claimed by GL.iNet · datasheet
$419.99gl-inet.com, Oct 27, 2026
Check price
GL.iNet · 4G LTE
Spitz Plus (GL-X2000)
The budget option on 4G LTE: enough for video calls and streaming where 5G coverage is thin.
Max 14 W · 12 V DC barrel (9–36 V) · datasheet
$175.99gl-inet.com, Oct 27, 2026
Check priceSatellite: Starlink on battery
Starlink needs nothing on the ground but power and a clear view of the sky. It costs more battery than a 5G router: a Standard dish up to 100 W, a Mini up to 40 W. Runtimes for every station are in our Starlink guide, and our sister site SatPicker covers plans and Mini battery sizing in depth.
Before the next storm
- Note which outlet the modem and router use, and keep a short power strip next to the power station.
- Charge phones and turn on Wi-Fi calling: if the cell tower is overloaded, calls go out over your home internet.
- If you add a 5G router, set it up and test it once on a normal day. Activating a SIM during an outage rarely goes well.
- Keep the station topped up: most lose a few percent a month in storage.
Frequently asked questions
Does Wi-Fi work when the power goes out?
Not on its own: your modem and router need power. Put them on a battery and they keep working as long as your provider's network outside also has power. Cable and fiber equipment in the street usually has backup batteries of its own, but they can run out in a long outage.
How long will a UPS or power station keep my router on?
A modem and Wi-Fi router draw about 10 W together, so a 1,024 Wh power station keeps them on for about 3.8 days. A small 256 Wh unit still covers about 23 h.
Is a 5G router a good backup for home internet?
It is the backup that doesn't depend on your provider's cabinets: cell towers usually have their own generators or batteries. The Spitz AX (GL-X3000) draws at most 14 W from a 12 V input, so it costs little battery. It needs a data plan and decent 5G or LTE coverage at your address.
What about Starlink?
Starlink works in an outage because it only needs power and a view of the sky. It draws more than a 5G router: up to 100 W for a Standard dish, up to 40 W for a Mini.
Free tool
Plan Wi-Fi with the rest
Fridge, Wi-Fi, lights and phones on one battery.
OutageWatt is independent and not affiliated with any brand named here. Specs come from makers' spec sheets and are dated; anything wired into your home needs a licensed electrician and a transfer switch or interlock. Never backfeed through an outlet.