Mobile Broadband Explained

Mobile broadband is a type of wireless internet access that allows users to surf the web using their laptops or smartphones like iPhone or Blackberry in areas where they can receive 3G mobile signal.

If you are a desktop computer or laptop user, you will only need a small device called USB modem stick or dongle, to connect to internet this way. If you are about to use smartphones for the same purpose, you will have separate contracts and tariff plans and these advanced, mobile handsets can directly connect to 3G mobile networks to access internet, using their in-built technology.

Mobile broadband internet works in a quite simple way: after you plug the modem stick or dongle onto a USB port of your laptop, it picks up mobile data signals (3G) in mobile phone network areas and instantly connects you to the web. The connection remains stable and quite fast as long as there is good mobile signal reception.

In short, check the mobile broadband coverage of a provider before considering their service.

Mobile Broadband Advantages

Mobile internet is broadband on the move as such its flexibility is something that you would not get with traditional broadband access services like ADSL or Cable internet. Since the mobile broadband networks is all you need, you can take your laptop with the dongle to anywhere outside the home or on the move and use it to access the internet as long as the location lies within the coverage area.

If you get good coverage, 3G (mobile) broadband works as good as a fixed line broadband connection, offering fairly decent speeds so you can check emails, visit social networking sites, download music or watch video clips – all these without requiring a phone line.

Getting mobile internet broadband is fairly quicker. Sign up online after comparing the best mobile broadband packages. Most providers deliver the dongle within a couple of days and it hardly takes ten minutes to activate your mobile internet account. ADSL or Cable broadband normally requires a week or more time to reach your premises after buying the service. You will also need to check out a few issues like loss of service, if you plan to move to new location and want a fixed broadband service there.

Mobile broadband Vs Wi-Fi

Another broadband option that offers better flexibility is Wi-Fi internet access. This means you can access faster internet speeds using wireless router in home or office environment or in wi-fi hotspots which are generally available in important places like restaurants, cafes, hotels, stations, commuters and airports. So, wi-fi broadband, which like mobile broadband, also helps you to go online when you are away from home, however, it can be used only at these locations, thus, does not meet the needs of truly mobile users.

Limitations of mobile broadband

However, mobile broadband currently has a few limitations. You will need to think over what you will do with your mobile broadband connection and following downsides, before buying a subscription:

• With maximum speed is currently advertised between 3.6Mbps and 7.2 Mbps compared to 24Mbps – 50Mbps offered by fixed line broadband, mobile broadband speeds may sometimes drop drastically or you can not connect due to issues like poor coverage, lack of network capacity and extreme data traffic.

• The smaller data allowance (1GB – 5GB) and the current expensive monthly tariffs that come with mobile broadband package can be a problem, if you want to download videos or play online games that take up large bandwidth.

• The disruption of mobile signal can make mobile broadband unusable for applications that require good latency levels like VoIP and high-speed net games.

Mobile Broadband Connections

When you buy mobile broadband, your service provider will offer a few options like whether you want the connection on your laptop using USB dongle or data-card or mobile broadband router (like the MiFi router provided by 3 ) that allows sharing of your account with others.

Some of the laptop offers from providers (like O2) even come with built in mobile broadband for easy setup and ready use.

Using dongle

USB mobile broadband Dongle is the best option if you already have a laptop since it is quite small, portable, convenient to use device on the move and also comes at competitive prices (sometimes for less than £10 with a PAYG deal). You can even get it FREE when you subscribe for pay monthly 18 month or 24 month contract.

Dongle with the SIM inside it, needs to be plugged into a USB port to establish the connection.

Dongle kit usually comes with extension cable to help you to move around to get better signal. External antennas can be used to improve dongle’s performance, in case you have reception problems caused by interiors but not by the network.

Laptop with built-in device

Mobile broadband device with antenna embedded in laptop is quite new in the market. You will need to pay some upfront fee and the pay monthly tariff you will have to choose could be more expensive, when you calculate the total cost.

However, the improved connectivity that you get with this option ensures that you can get more out of your mobile broadband connection in coverage areas.

Mobile broadband router

With Mobile broadband routers, you can connect to mobile networks as well as share a single connection with others.

To use this option, you will to need buy a package from the provider that bundles this equipment with their service, for instance, 3 Mobile UK. You can connect up to five wi-fi enabled devices (laptops and consoles) using MiFi router to use 3’s mobile broadband service.

Comparison of Mobile broadband Deals

You can choose the best option that suits your needs when you subscribe to mobile broadband service . This varies depending on whether you sign up for a Pay Monthly plan (12, 18 or 24 month contract) or pay as you go (PAYG) mobile broadband deal or take mobile internet subscription for a few months, say 3 months, with an upfront fee.

The downside to Pay and Go mobile broadband is that you have to pay for the USB modem stick or dongle, however, it is a great option for those people who have occasional or light usage and there is also freedom from longer contracts. You can also cancel the service at any time you wish without paying any extra fee.

However, you can get free equipment, increased data allowance and cheap monthly tariff, if you sign up for contracts that start from 12 months up to 24 months. Pay Monthly contract deals also allow you to use the service abroad with roaming charges fixed by your internet provider.

Free laptop deals usually come with longer contracts and higher monthly cost so analyse the offer well before you go for it.

Do I need mobile broadband?

Mobile broadband is a fast growing technology, yet, its replacing of fixed broadband may take another five or more years. At best, dongles and smartphones can be used to access internet on the move or while you are away from your office or home, while you still make use of ADSL or cable broadband to make larger downloads as these types are still cheaper, can provide stable connection and deliver higher speeds.

Following suggestions can help the beginners:

• If you are a mobile worker or a student, you will be outside the home most of the time thus taking a suitable mobile broadband plan can meet all your online needs. PAYG mobile broadband packages are a great way of saving money for light users.
• Monitor your mobile broadband usage. We would caution you that excessive mobile internet usage can increase your bills to hundreds of pounds a month. Currently, 15GB of monthly data may cost around £15 on a contract deal. If you are on PAYG plan, you may have to pay £5 to £10 for using 1GB.
• You will also be tied by Fair Usage Policy when you take a pay monthly deal which is often advertised as providing unlimited access. Under this policy, the cost of usage climbs up when you go over the fair usage (it can be up to 20GB per month) fixed by your provider. (For instance, O2 mobile UK charges 20p per MB for additional usage)
• Your mobile broadband account can be used when you travel abroad as this feature is available with all contract offers. However, international roaming charges are pretty high these times so you would use the service carefully when you are outside of UK, often monitoring your usage to make sure that bills will be moderate. We would suggest that you check out the roaming charges with your ISP before you use your current mobile broadband service abroad.