Mobile Broadband
Mobile broadband is the great new way to connect your computer to the internet
via a mobile phone network. So wherever your mobile phone can receive a signal
your laptop/PC will also be able to connect to the internet via the same
network.
What’s the difference between mobile and wireless broadband?
Mobile broadband and wireless broadband are two quite different ways of
connecting your computer or other device to the internet. With wireless
broadband (Wi-Fi) you connect to the network via a wireless card either built in
to your computer or added as an extra. The Wi-Fi signal is broadcast from a
wireless router (e.g. at home or a wireless hot spot in a café) that only covers
a relatively small area. To stay connected you have to stay within range of the
router. Mobile broadband uses the mobile telephone network to connect to the
internet. A small USB dongle is connected to your laptop/PC which can then send
and receive data across the mobile phone network in a similar way to your mobile
phone. You can move around and as long as there is sufficient signal your
computer will stay connected to the internet.
Who is mobile broadband best suited to?
The first people to start using mobile broadband technology tended to be
business men and woman who needed internet access whilst out of the office and
more crucially could afford the initial high prices. As prices have fallen
dramatically over the last 18 months more and more people are using mobile
broadband as their main way of getting online. It is especially suited to those
who don’t have or want a telephone landline for a fixed ADSL or cable broadband
connection like students, people in rented accommodation or those who just use a
mobile phone all the time. Also people who travel regularly and commuters or
those that don’t stay in one place for long find mobile broadband a great
solution.
What are the drawbacks?
Mobile broadband connects via a USB dongle/stick that makes connection sharing
difficult. If you want more than one computer to share a connection at once,
fixed line broadband will be much easier to configure.
Who supplies Mobile Broadband?
Each of the mobile phone networks now have a mobile broadband product. So
checkout our list of the latest offers around.
Do I need a Contract?
Most deals from the mobile providers are either 12 or 18 month contracts. Both 3
and T-Mobile also have pay as you go mobile broadband deals. You pay for the
dongle and then are charged for the amount of data you transfer.
Download Limits
Mobile broadband deals like home broadband have a limited amount of data that can be transfered over a month. This is the monthly allowance or cap. If you exceed the allowed amount you can continue to connect to the internet but are charged for the extra data. These charges can quickly add up and are especially high if you are abroad.
Coverage
Mobile broadband uses the providers 3G network, which currently does not cover the entire country. Each provider have coverage maps and it worth while checking that your main area of use will be within the network.
 |
Maximum speed (up to) |
Monthly data allowance |
Contract |
One off cost for the USB dongle |
Monthly Cost |
|
| O2 Mobile Broadband |
1.8Mbps |
3GB |
18 month |
FREE |
£20 |
 |
| O2 Mobile Broadband |
1.8Mbps |
3GB |
1 month rolling |
£99.99 |
£20 |
|
O2 Mobile Broadband is available to existing O2 mobile or O2 home broadband customers.
Also included is unlimited access to 7,500 WiFi hotspots across the UK. Cost of exceeding allowance is £0.20 per MB. |
 |
Maximum speed (up to) |
Monthly data allowance |
Contract |
One off cost for the USB dongle |
Monthly Cost |
|
| Internet Everywhere Package |
1.8Mbps |
3GB |
18 month |
FREE |
£15 |
 |
| Out of bundle charges are 1.46p per MB (£15 per GB) |