Mobile Broadband - Compare Mobile Broadband Providers and Broadband Deals

Broadband Expert compares mobile broadband deals and prices & reviews ISPs

Broadband Expert is a UK home broadband and mobile broadband comparison site offering advice, information and guides for consumers to help make choosing a provider and package as easy as possible. We are independent of all mobile networks and internet service providers (ISPs), and our aim is to help our visitors find and compare the best mobile broadband deals and home wireless broadband deals to make a more informed decision when buying. We also provide information on the so called ‘mobile broadband free laptop deals’ from providers such as Vodafone and 3. We provide information on the different broadband deals available in the UK by researching and comparing ISPs and mobile broadband providers and the wide range of plans available so that you can quickly make a side by side comparison of the different packages available in your area. We compare deals from the mobile networks and fixed line broadband providers and packages by download speeds, contract length, price, installation costs and our own ratings. We additionally provide broadband reviews so you can read what other customers say about their providers including the good and the bad so you can fully weigh up the pros and cons before making a decision.

Whether you are looking to buy a cheap mobile broadband deal, a pay as you go plan, a superfast high speed broadband connection, a mobile broadband dongle or just want to know how you can take advantage of wireless broadband to connect your Nokia phone, iPad and laptop on the same connection to get the whole family online you will be able to find a suitable package with our comparison service to compare mobile broadband deals and home internet packages. In addition to price comparison we offer various guides explaining everything from what techie terms such as ADSL, GSM, WAP, DSL and bandwidth mean to the pros and cons of buying cable TV, phone and broadband bundles compared to standalone options and cover daily news relating to broadband and wireless topics over at our blog. Being the geeks we are we also run various surveys and tests to benchmark the performance and speeds of different mobile broadband networks and ISPs and have played an active part in fighting for consumer rights to bring a fairer deal to UK broadband users.

If you live in the US then you can check out our sister site for high speed internet providers in your area and cellular broadband deals. Or if you are after a new mobile phone in the UK then you can visit Mobile Phone Expert to compare the latest mobile phone deals and offers.

If you want to find out more about Broadband Expert or get in touch please visit the about Broadband Expert section or the contact us pages at the bottom of this page. We are always happy to hear feedback on what we’ve done right, what we could do better and what extra information you would like to see on the website.

Do I need a mobile broadband dongle or a home wireless broadband connection?

Mobile broadband and fixed broadband (either an ADSL or cable connection which uses fibre optics) are the two main types of broadband most people in the UK use; most ADSL and cable or fibre optic internet connections will include a wireless router to enable wireless access within your household. Those in rural areas who have access to neither (often referred to as ‘broadband notspots’), may have to buy satellite broadband although this is an expensive option and only usually taken if no other type of connection is available. Many people use both fixed and mobile internet connections so they can have the mobility of using an easily portable mobile broadband dongle and the increased bandwidth, high speeds and larger data allowances of a home broadband connection, however if you want to choose just one there are advantages and disadvantages to both that you should consider and a number of FAQs which we have addressed below.

Mobile broadband, occasionally called cellular broadband outside of the UK and not to be confused with home wireless broadband, offers a portable way to access the internet, usually from a hand-held or portable device such as a phone or a laptop. Whilst you can tether your mobile phone to a laptop to take advantage of the phone’s mobile internet connectivity you won’t usually get good speeds and some mobile networks prevent tethering so this isn’t an effective solution for most people.

The main advantage of a using a mobile broadband device is the mobility you get from a dongle, which is the name commonly given to the small USB modem device that is easily portable and can plug in to your laptop and connect to the mobile network to give you wireless internet access at home or when you travel in the UK or abroad (read more here first before accessing mobile broadband abroad and what you should be aware of). The two main disadvantages are slower speeds and lack of coverage in some areas; a third drawback is that if you use lots of bandwidth and data (for example downloading lots of movies or using media players such as the BBC iPlayer), then even the so called unlimited mobile broadband plans may prove expensive if you exceed the lower download limits most networks put in place on mobile data packages.

Speeds for mobile broadband are determined largely by which type of connection you have available, we cover this in more detail later on this page but our main piece of advice when choosing between home and mobile broadband is to check you get 3G coverage in the areas you are likely to use the connection most regularly before taking the plunge for mobile broadband is that is your preferred option. You can check the type of coverage available in your area with 3, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2 and Virgin Mobile here with our UK mobile broadband coverage checker. If you want to see what other customers are saying about their mobile network you can read mobile broadband reviews and add your own review if you wish.

Here at Broadband Expert we’ve been using mobile broadband dongles for over 4 years and whilst we have always loved the plug and play ease of connecting the dongle to a laptop and being online in seconds we are happy to report that we have seen speeds improve after some frustrating experiences in the early years. If you live in an area of good connectivity and spend your time using our comparison tables and reading the guides and consumer reviews on this site then so long as you expectation isn’t of a superfast connection capable of downloading movies in minutes and slick online gaming then you shouldn’t go too far wrong with mobile broadband. We’ve even found connections of just 1Mbps to be sufficient for general internet use and at a stretch even mobile VoIP service such as Skype. Speeds could improve further (we are doing our bit to campaign for this), but for the most part our experience with mobile broadband has been good. From our own tests, surveys and feedback from other mobile broadband users, those living in the more populated urban areas and in particular in cities are most likely to benefit from buying a dongle. In most cities, even when the network coverage is weaker, or outside of a 3G area, you will still be able to surf the web and check emails, albeit it a slower speed by connecting to the 2G network. Those in rural areas are likely to struggle with a mobile broadband connection and we would advise staying clear until the technology until coverage improves unless the network in question shows strong 3G coverage and signal strength at your address when using a coverage checker.

If you just want to use the internet without wires anywhere in your household then most people would be better using a wireless broadband connection rather than a mobile broadband connection as it is usually faster, more reliable and if you are a heavy data user it will be cheaper. Wireless broadband describes a fixed connection which makes use of a wireless router so that anyone in range can get their internet enabled devices connected wirelessly to the connection from their ISP. Unless you are lucky enough to live in a castle, most good wireless routers will provide coverage anywhere in your household and will allow multiple people and devices to connect at the same time!

Types of home broadband connection

There are three main types of fixed broadband connection, ADSL, ADSL2+ and cable or fibre optic.

ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line and uses the old copper wires originally laid to provide the telephone line network and typically delivers the slowest speeds.

ADSL2+ is an upgraded version of ADSL which has the potential to deliver speeds twice as fast.

Cable broadband or fibre optic connections offer the greatest bandwidth (bandwidth describes the rate at which the connection can transmit data along the line) and have the potential to provide the highest speeds.

Superfast broadband networks launched by BT (called BT infinity) and Virgin Media in the UK, are capable of delivering speeds of up to 100Mbps (this is very fast!) work by delivering the fibre optic connection right to your home and set the benchmark for other technologies to compete with. Previously the final part of the internet cable which brings the connection to your home (often referred to as the final third), used copper which limited the potential speeds available from fibre optic broadband. The UK government has said they are “working on bringing superfast broadband to all parts of the UK” and claim that Britain with have the best broadband network in Europe by 2015. Call us cynical but we are more than a little sceptical on this pledge but really hope to be proved wrong!

If you want the speed and reliability of a home wireless broadband connection but some of the portability a mobile broadband dongle offers then some home broadband deals offer access to Wi-Fi hotspots as part of the package meaning you can connect your smartphone, tablet, netbook or laptop to the internet in these wireless hotspots. For example BT has over 3 million public Wi-Fi locations in the UK where its customers can use free Wi-Fi access.

Mobile broadband – understanding the technology and terms used

If you decide that you want to buy one of the many mobile broadband deals then you may come across a wide range of technical terms which can be little confusing but these really should be nothing to worry about. Here are some of the more common terms used by mobile networks or shops selling mobile broadband in addition to some of the more technical terms you may find in the tech press. If you just want to compare cheap mobile broadband deals to find the most affordable option or a low cost provider in your area then use our comparison tables.

Dongle: This describes the USB modem device that plugs in to your laptop and enables wireless connectivity to the internet through the mobile network. To use an internet dongle simply plug it in to a USB port on your laptop and follow the (usually very simple!) instructions provided by the mobile operator. Also referred to as a mobile broadband dongle or wireless dongle these devices are what most providers in the UK supply and replaced the old data cards used in the early days of 3G.

Wireless broadband: This isn’t actually a term relating to mobile broadband but we thought we’d include it here anyway to explain the difference as it does still catch some people out! Wireless broadband is a fixed broadband connection which can be accessed anywhere in your home wirelessly thanks to a modem and wireless router. The wireless router enables a wireless network which provides connectivity for your internet enabled devices such as your iPhone or other smartphone, a tablet, iPad, or your laptop or home computer. Most home broadband providers include a wireless router and wireless modem (they are usually combined in the same gadget), free of charge when you sign-up. You can check out our comparison tables here to find the latest wireless broadband deals from UK ISPs.

3G: This is the standard used by most mobile networks in the UK and offers the fastest type of widely available mobile broadband connection. 3G has a theoretical maximum speed of 21.6Mbps (when using the move advanced HSPA+ 3G technology) but it is likely that you will achieve speeds closer to the UK average of around 2Mbps. You may occasionally here the term UMTS which refers to Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service when technical documents refer to 3G however this is just more industry jargon so don’t let it throw you!

HSPA: This term stands for High Speed Packet Access and describes the ability to upload or download packets of information which means you can send and receive large amounts of data such as email attachments or downloading music over your mobile connection. You may also hear two related terms which are HSUPA and HSDPA which stand for high speed upload packet access and high speed download packet access. There’s nothing to worry about with these terms, they just describe some of the technology used which allows high speed internet access using mobile broadband. 3 has upgraded some it’s 3G network to HSPA+ which allows for greater upload and download speeds; if you are in an area covered by HSPA+ you will need a compatible dongle from 3 but it is worth it. Our own tests have shown that HSPA+ will produce faster real life speeds and we would encourage you to use our coverage checker to see if this technology is available in your area.

4G: This describes the next generation of mobile broadband technology and is something we are very excited about at Broadband Expert! 4G is currently being tested by O2 and a number of other networks in the UK. 4G uses one of two different technologies called WiMAX and LTE. LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution, is very likely to be the standard for 4G connections with less and less companies investing in WiMAX networks. Outside of the UK some companies have tried to argue that HSPA+ is a form of 4G however whilst HSPA+ is a step forward from other 3G connections we definitely don’t see it as 4G here at Broadband Expert Towers! 4G has the potential to offer speeds similar to the fastest home broadband connections and could make mobile broadband a real contender for replacing fixed line broadband connections. You can learn more here about 4G in the UK and how it works.

GSM/2G: You shouldn’t hear too much about this technology as it is being replaced by the latest mobile wireless networks, however if you can’t get a 3G signal your mobile phone or wireless dongle may be able to pick up a slower 2G connection meaning you don’t lose connectivity altogether so for now it is still important in keeping us connected. GSM, which stands for Global System for Mobile Communications, describes 2G cellular networks which are capable of transmitting data though at a much slower speed than 3G. With 3G coverage growing in the UK and 4G not far away we hope the frustrations of only having a GSM data connection to fall back on are soon to be gone for good.

Bandwidth: This is a term related not just to mobile broadband but to all type of internet connections (even dial up and satellite) and describes the rate at which data can be transferred. Bandwidth tends to be used more in the technical press and when it comes to speeds the ones you should pay attention to when choosing a package are maximum upload and download speeds quoted by providers. However these are theoretical maximums, check out our Broadband Awards to see real life speeds and which provider had the fastest actual speed based on our speed test results.

Mobile internet: This term can refer to a mobile broadband connection but more often refers to the mobile internet connection on a phone, usually a smartphone. It’s not a technical term and can be interchangeable with mobile broadband so don’t let it confuse you if you see mobile internet used in different contexts (see how we used it to refer to mobile broadband dongles rather than phones in that link just to illustrate the point)!

Who are the main UK mobile broadband providers?

Do I need unlimited mobile broadband or home broadband? What are fair usage policies?

Unlimited broadband, whether it is for fixed broadband or mobile broadband services has caused a lot of controversy; mainly because some services advertising themselves as unlimited aren’t truly unlimited (amazingly providers are allowed to call some limited plans unlimited), or penalise users who use a lot of data with what are ironically called fair usage policies.

Before signing up to an unlimited mobile broadband or a fixed line unlimited broadband deal first think about what you use your connection for since there may be no need to pay for a more expensive unlimited package if a cheaper option with a lower download cap will suffice and will be more affordable. Most regular broadband users who want to use their internet connection to get online, email, surf the web, use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, download music, watch online video clips and some movies will not need an unlimited home broadband connection and even the cheapest broadband deals are likely to be sufficient for your needs. If you download lots of movies and don’t mind the wait of doing this over mobile broadband – which isn’t something we recommend unless you really do have a lot of time on your hands – then an unlimited mobile broadband package may be worth the extra money.

Can I use mobile broadband abroad?

The simple answer is yes but be very careful if you plan on using it more than just a little. We’ve heard and even spoken to people who have told us horror stories of using mobile broadband and running up huge bills in what the papers have called ‘bill shock’. The reason for this is that when using your UK mobile broadband dongle abroad your connection will be provided by a local mobile provider’s network and data is charged at an international roaming rate which is much, much more expensive! These data charges apply to using mobile data on your smartphone not just with a wireless dongle. Whilst roaming rates have fallen, partly due to EU legislation, using mobile broadband in a foreign country can still be very expensive; here’s how you can make it cheaper:

Turn of the mobile data connection on your smartphone; devices like Blackberry’s with ‘push’ emails can potentially run up big charges just by automatically downloading your emails over a roaming mobile connection.
Make use of public free or paid hotel Wi-Fi to download your emails or any large files and save mobile roaming use for less data intensive activities such as browsing the web.
If you plan to stay in the country for an extended period consider buying a local SIM card which includes data for your phone or a local pay as you go dongle so you pay local data rates not the inflated international roaming fees. For example you can find mobile broadband plans in Australia here.
Some mobile broadband providers have plans which cater for international travel and allow cheaper rates when abroad, ask your mobile carrier for details of these.

PAYG mobile broadband or contract, which should I choose?

Pay as you go mobile broadband, or PAYG for short, is now the most popular choice for UK consumers with this trend looking set to continue throughout 2012. However, pay as you go mobile broadband dongles aren’t always the best value and for some a contract deal represents the cheapest mobile broadband option. If you use a dongle as an alternative to your home broadband and don’t download lots of data then PAYG mobile broadband is likely to save you money and will mean you don’t need to commit to a monthly contract. For those who use their internet connection more regularly or use it as their main internet connection then the cost of topping up data may reach the point where it is cheaper to buy a contract deal which gives you more data (more download allowance) for your money. When weighing up the pros and cons of pay as you go mobile broadband vs. contract then remember to consider the contract length you will be committing to in addition to the monthly cost.

There are also home pay as you go broadband deals available from providers such as O2 which are particularly good if you are looking for a short term solution and need the higher speeds a fixed internet provider can offer; for example if you are renting a property for a short period or are a student who doesn’t want out to commit to a 12 month or longer contract when you may be out of the property over the summer months.

Phone, TV and broadband bundles are they really cheaper?

Satellite or cable TV companies like Virgin Media and Sky broadband have offered broadband bundles of phone, TV and internet for years whilst BT has more recently got in on the game with its BT vision TV service. Most home broadband providers offer phone and broadband deals whilst some even bundle four services together by including a mobile phone as part of the package. Our advice is to opt for bundling where possible as it is almost always cheaper plus it has the added convenience of having just one supplier and one bill for your phone, broadband, TV and mobile if you have all four. Additionally if something goes wrong you only have one supplier to deal with. One downside is that technical faults could lead to the loss of service your cable or satellite TV, broadband internet access and phone line at the same time. If you just want broadband check out our list of broadband only packages or if you are shopping for a bargain find the most affordable broadband deals with our comparison of low cost and cheap broadband packages which includes any discounts the providers are running.

If you bundle your services your business is worth more to the telecommunication providers and they will make more of an effort to keep you; this means that if you are unhappy at the renewal of the contract you may be able to negotiate a better price to stop you moving to a competitor.

Which are the best mobile broadband deals and broadband providers?

There are two main factors to consider when picking the best mobile broadband provider or home broadband deal. Firstly you should decide which type of broadband package is right for your internet usage and habits and secondly you may want to assess the different access providers to see which one provides the best level of service. To work out what type of plan you require first decide between home and mobile broadband (we’ve covered this above) and then work out if you are an occasional or normal user or a heavy user. To avoid any confusion we’re talking about heavy data usage here not large people! Heavy data users download lots of data and are often those who watch lots of movies online or download lots games. If you download lots of data or are an online gamer you are more likely to want a high end unlimited broadband connection with fast speeds. For the rest of us who download some films, watch online video, browse the web, email or use the internet for social networking even the cheapest broadband packages should provide sufficient speeds and download limits (unless you are a tech geek like us and just want the fastest broadband connection you can get your hands on)! The caveat to this is those in rural areas with ADSL broadband who live a long distance from the exchange which provides the connection to their home. For many people living in the countryside speeds can be frustratingly slow since when data is sent along a copper wire as is the case with any form of DSL or ADSL connections, the further the distance travelled the greater the loss of speed and the slower the connection for the end user.

Once you have worked out which type of package is suitable for your internet usage then you can use our comparison table to find the most affordable option. However price isn’t everything and we provide other data over at our UK broadband statistics and charts where we report on customer satisfaction for the different ISPs and mobile broadband providers, average speeds achieved by each provider and have customer broadband reviews so you can see how others rate their supplier. For example you can check out the latest O2 broadband reviews from other customers. We also run annual mobile broadband awards where we look at a range of metrics to judge the major UK mobile networks. Finally if you want to get your hands on even more data then you can read the Ofcom measuring mobile broadband UK report.

Free laptops with mobile broadband explained

The old saying “if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is” could be applied to mobile broadband free laptop deals as the laptops really aren’t free. However these deals are still popular and can represent a good option for many consumers once they understand what they are buying. Think of free laptop mobile broadband contracts in the same way you would think of mobile phone contracts, the hardware, in this case the laptop rather than a mobile phone handset, bumps up the cost of the monthly tariff and is more expensive than buying just the mobile broadband plan on its own.

Typically over the length of the contract you will pay a similar amount and often a little more than buying the laptop or netbook and mobile broadband contract separately. We show the value of the laptop in our comparison table over at our free laptop mobile broadband contracts page. These deals are still appealing to many people because there is no big upfront cost of the laptop as it is spread over the length of the contract with deals starting at around 25 pounds per month for 3 and Vodafone. T-Mobile, Orange and O2 have all pulled out of the free laptop and broadband market so the choice is more limited than it once was.

How can I complain about my ISP or mobile broadband provider

If you are unhappy with the service you receive from your mobile broadband provider or home internet provider then there are a number of things you can do:

Your first call should always to be to the mobile network or Internet Service Provider (ISP), it costs them money to acquire new customers and they want to keep them. If you are not happy with the responses you are getting or the problem is taking too long to be resolved then ask what the escalation process is so you can speak with more senior staff and will be more likely to have you issue be given priority.
Ask for the providers official complaint procedure and keep a log of all calls, letters and email correspondence.
Have a moan; if you are unhappy with your provider let others know what you think of them and vent some frustration by leaving a broadband review over at our review section.
If you are unsatisfied with your broadband speeds check what speed you should be getting. Providers have an up-to speed which is a theoretical maximum but some ISPs will give you a realistic expected speed before signing-up. Run a broadband speed test to see what speed you are actually getting. It’s worth checking your internet speed at various times throughout the day as it will differ dependent on how busy the network is and how many people are online at any given time. If your speeds are way below where they should be it’s not unknown for broadband providers to offer free upgrades to faster packages to stop them losing a customer.
Switch provider if you are at the end of your contract and aren’t happy. If you switch away from one ISP to another ask you existing provider for something called a MAC code, when you give this to your new provider it allows them to switch your connection with a minimum amount of disruption to the service. Your ISP is legally obloged to give you the MAC code so don’t take no for an answer.
As a last resort complain to the UK telecommunications regulator OFCOM if you really are getting nowhere by talking to your provider and feel you have been unfairly treated.
Alternatively speak to your local Citizens Advice Bureau who can provide free advice or call the government organisation consumer Direct on 0845 04 05 06.
Before choosing your next provider read reviews, compare broadband prices and read the small print so you can make an informed decision.

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