Amazon’s networking brand Eero is beginning to explore the cellular hotspot router market—though in a somewhat unique and limited fashion. At IFA 2025, the company officially revealed a new device called the Eero Signal, a compact piece of hardware designed to operate as a safety net for your home network. The purpose of this accessory is to monitor whether your primary internet connection fails, and, if it does, to seamlessly replace it with a stream of cellular data, ensuring that your household or office remains connected even during unexpected outages.
The Eero Signal itself is a relatively small, upright peripheral that connects directly into your current Eero router via USB-C. To achieve this connection, the device comes equipped with a USB-C splitter, which allows it to plug into the router’s USB-C port while at the same time providing power for both the Signal and the router without the need for additional adapters. In terms of service, Eero has tied the Signal’s functionality into its existing premium subscription product, Eero Plus. Current subscribers who are paying the annual $99.99 fee for Eero Plus will be allocated 10GB of cellular backup data each year. For customers who anticipate heavier usage or who prefer greater assurance of uninterrupted online activity, a higher-tier subscription called “Eero Plus 100” will be introduced at $199.99 annually. The name accurately indicates what the plan offers: 100GB of backup cellular data. According to Eero spokesperson Connor Rice, the Signal will be compatible with any Eero router equipped with a USB-C port and supporting Wi-Fi 6 or newer wireless standards.
It is worth noting that subscribers to Eero Plus already benefit from a built-in backup feature known as Eero Internet Backup. This system automatically detects when your home network has lost connectivity and can redirect it to another available Wi-Fi network, such as a nearby public hotspot or a neighbor’s shared connection. However, the new Eero Signal is intended for situations where such alternate networks are unavailable or where customers wish to avoid buying mobile hotspot data separately from another provider. For those scenarios, the Signal represents a more tightly integrated solution. It will initially be released in a 4G LTE version, priced at $99.99, expected to become available in early 2026. Looking further ahead, Eero has confirmed that it will also release a 5G-capable model later that same year. This upgraded model will employ the newer 5G RedCap standard, a specialized cellular protocol designed for devices that need reliable, low-latency connections but not massive bandwidth, such as Internet of Things appliances and wearable technology. The advanced 5G version of the Signal will cost $199.99, according to Rice.
From a performance perspective, the company explained that it is collaborating with several leading cellular carriers to deliver dependable backup connectivity when traditional internet access fails. The speeds customers can expect will of course vary, but Eero provided theoretical maximum figures: up to 150Mbps for the 4G LTE-based version of the Signal, while the 5G RedCap model could achieve as much as 220Mbps. Rice emphasized that these are best-case scenarios; actual throughput will generally depend on environmental and infrastructural factors, including the distance of a user’s home to the nearest cell tower and the particular frequency bands made available in their area.
In addition to unveiling the Signal, Eero used the event to announce the Eero PoE 7, a highly advanced router powered by the Wi-Fi 7 standard and designed to operate over Ethernet with integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) support. Unlike the Signal, this device is not targeted at the average household consumer. Instead, it is intended to serve businesses and residential complexes with wired networking infrastructure as well as heightened bandwidth requirements. The PoE 7 integrates smoothly into Eero’s existing mesh systems, but with the additional benefit of receiving both energy and data through a single Ethernet cable, simplifying installation and reducing clutter. In terms of technical specifications, it closely mirrors the capabilities of the Eero Max 7. The firm promises this model can provide wireless transfer rates of up to 3.9Gbps and wired speeds reaching an impressive 9.4Gbps. Each unit also comes with two 10GbE ports and is engineered to extend Wi-Fi coverage across an area of approximately 2,000 square feet. Scheduled for release in November, the Eero PoE 7 will be sold exclusively in the United States and Canada at a price of $499.99, but it will not be available directly on retail shelves. Instead, it will be distributed through select internet service providers and professional installation services, ensuring that it reaches the business and professional markets for which it was designed.
Sourse: https://gizmodo.com/eero-wants-to-sell-customers-a-cellular-internet-backup-dongle-for-its-routers-2000650756
