Device for using phones when there isn't WiFi/ 5G

[wondabar]

When I have been on planes or trains when there is no WiFi or 5G my WiFi settings list names of people who seem to have their own hotspot. I'm sure I recently read about a device that you can get to facilitate creating your own hotspot. Does anyone know what these are called as they would be great Christmas presents?

What you are seeing is people using their phone as a hotspot so that they can tether their tablet or laptop to it. A lot of people just leave the phone hotspot switched on all the time so you will still see it even if it’s not being used.

if there is no WiFi or 4G/5G signal the only thing that will work is satellite internet (eg Starlink).

You can of course get portable 4G/5G routers (which is probably what you are thinking about) but just like a phone they only work if there is a mobile signal.