Mobile broadband is arguably the most important development in internet technology since the dawn of the broadband era itself. Rather than relying on the fixed line services offered by ADSL and Cable broadband providers it uses 3G mobile networks, allowing its customers to roam around the country and indeed the world and still have access to the internet at high speeds, whether you’re enjoying a coffee in a modern metropolis or sunning yourself by the sea side. Combined with a laptop computer, mobile broadband is the first truly wireless broadband internet solution, and as prices fall and availability increases there’s never been a better time to get on board.
All of the major mobile telephone networks offer mobile broadband packages, as do BT and Virgin Media, so there’s lots of competition and choice for the consumer. As a result it can become a tedious and confusing struggle to find the mobile broadband deal that’s right for you, so let’s consider the key things to look for when opting for mobile broadband.
Speed and Network Coverage
The first consideration is of course the download speed that a given service is capable of. Most deals fall into one of two camps, the first offering up to 3.6Mbps download speeds and the second offering up to 7.2Mbps download speeds. For example, 3 Mobile are honest in saying that their theoretical maximum service speed is 3.6Mbps, but most customers should expect 2Mbps or more depending on network coverage. On the other hand, Vodafone’s high speed networks can give 7.2Mbps speeds, but are limited in coverage. 3G network coverage will also be a consideration. 3 Mobile currently have the most widespread coverage levels with 90% of the UK able to connect to its mobile broadband, though other networks are always catching up and over the next 3 years you should expect coverage levels to improve significantly.
Cost and Contract Length
A majority of mobile broadband contracts last for 18 months or more, and for your money you’ll get a free mobile broadband dongle that will act as the receiver to facilitate the connection, as well as a fixed monthly data allowance. The data allowance, rated in Gigabytes or GB, will set the amount of use you can get out of your connection, and 1GB is the equivalent of around 10 hours of web use and is available on the cheapest contracts. If you reach your monthly data allowance limit you may be charged for additional usage or have the option to purchase more data depending on your network, so this should have an impact on your choice of network, perhaps even more so than download speeds.
Comparing Providers
If you’ve worked out your needs based on the above considerations then the best way to choose a mobile broadband provider is to head to a price comparison site. Each operators deals will be available side by side and owners of contract phones may find their operator does special deals for current customers.