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Mobile broadband

Mobile broadband and home broadband comparison with broadband expert. mobile broadband and home broadband packages updated daily.

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Compare mobile broadband providers and mobile broadband packages with the Experts.

97% mobile broadband coverage in the UK
Broadband speeds on the move
Simple to install

COMPARE HOME BROADBAND

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Compare home broadband providers and home broadband packages with the Experts.

fast reliable broadband
excellent coverage
great download and upload speeds

Mobile Broadband and Broadband Providers

Fastest UK Broadband

8Mb Packages (Sept '09 - Feb '10)

	Provider	Download
1	BE	4.4Mb
2	O2	4.18Mb
3	TalkTalk	3.92Mb
4	Post Office	3.61Mb
5	Madasafish	3.56Mb
6	Orange	3.51Mb
7	Eclipse	3.31Mb
8	Virgin (ADSL)	3.28Mb
9	BT	3.2Mb
10	AOL	3.17Mb

See more stats

Mobile Broadband

Over recent years fixed line broadband has become enormously popular both in homes and offices, and an increasing number of households and offices now rely on broadband technology to access the Internet. However, more recently a new technology has started to cause a stir in the communications market, and this known as mobile broadband, which is designed to meet the needs of people that want or need to access the Internet whilst out and about rather than only when they are in the home or office.

About mobile broadband technology

Already this innovative technology is proving very popular, and the take up of mobile broadband has already increased quite quickly. This technology enables consumers to enjoy total mobility, as well as convenience, ease, and flexibility, which is something that you do not get with fixed line broadband. With mobile broadband your office can be wherever you want it to be.

Whereas fixed line broadband uses fibre optic cable or copper telephone wires to connect people to the Internet, mobile broadband uses mobile phone networks to do this, which effectively means that you can use mobile broadband anywhere that you can get a mobile phone signal. This is done through the use of a modem, which you will receive when you sign up to mobile broadband.

Mobile broadband modems

The mobile broadband modem connects you to the Internet through your USB connection, which means that you do not need electricity and can therefore enjoy this mobile access. These small compact modems can be easily transported around. The type of mobile broadband modem that you will receive will depend on your needs and the provider that you go through, but the options include:

USB dongle
USB stick
Mobile data cards for use with laptops that have plug and go software

Is mobile broadband just for business people?

Business people are likely to find mobile broadband very useful if they tend to go out and about as part of their business, as it means that they can access to Internet and deal with business no matter where they are, effectively providing them with a mobile office. However, many other people can benefit from mobile broadband technology too. For instance, students who are in and out of college and university may find that mobile broadband provides them with increased flexibility and convenience. Those that use the Internet for recreational purposes but also like to travel will be able to benefit from mobile broadband. Some people may even like to have mobile broadband for the home for example, those that have no fixed broadband and do not want to have landline installed and pay costly line rental fees. In fact, anyone that wants to enjoy the convenience, flexibility, and mobility that mobile broadband offers can benefit from this technology.

Factors to consider before signing up to mobile broadband

It is likely that the take up of mobile broadband will continue to increase quite quickly, but before you take the plunge make sure that you ask yourself some important questions to help determine which package is going to be right for you. This includes:

What will you be using mobile broadband for, and based on that, what sort of speeds will you need? If you are using it for business then you may want to look at higher speeds.
What sorts of download allowance do the various provider offers, and will this be sufficient? The download allowance can vary from one provider to another, so you need to compare this.
Will you be able to get proper access to the Internet based on the area/environment that you live, work, or travel in? Your speed and access ability can be affected by your location, environment, and the signal strength in the area.
What sort of contract length will you want to start off with? Whilst some providers offer special deals for taking out longer contracts such as eighteen or twenty four months, you may want to test the water with a twelve month contract to start with.
How much can you afford to pay? There are different mobile broadband deals on offer with the different providers, so make sure the compare them to see what is on offer to get the most suitable and affordable deal.

Which mobile broadband provider?

You will also need to decide on which provider you want to go with, and the choice of providers for mobile broadband are:

Each of these offers different packages, different prices, and a choice of modem options. Make sure you check details such as the maximum speeds offered, download allowance, cost, contract length and terms, and modem options available.

The good and the bad

There are many benefits to having mobile broadband, and this is why this technology has taken off so rapidly. When you have mobile broadband you can enjoy access to the Internet no matter where you are, providing you have a mobile phone signal; you don't have the same data security risks as you would with WiFi; you can get some very competitive deals; and you can enjoy an affordable a flexible alternative to having a landline installed in the home.

On the downside transfer of data across 3G networks can be more costly, and this means that download limits can be more restricted. Also, you are not guaranteed a connection, as your ability to access the Internet will be dependant on where you are and how strong the signal is.

Where will it go from here?

Although it is unlikely that mobile broadband will replace fixed line broadband in homes and offices at least not yet there are plans to improve their fairly new technology already underway. When 4G technology comes along this could help to smooth out any issues with limited downloads and slow speeds, and could help to reduce the cost of mobile broadband as a result.

In the meantime the future looks bright for mobile broadband, with the number of people taking advantage of this technology expected to soar, and with some industry officials comparing the take up or mobile broadband with take up of the mobile phone in the 1990s.

Looking for Mobile Phone Deals, www.mobilephone-expert.co.uk compares all the latest deals and offers.

Broadband

Broadband is the technology that allows high speed access to the internet and is usually through the either the telephone network of copper wires (ADSL broadband), cable/fibre optic (Virgin Media use this technology) or by the 3G mobile network (mobile broadband).

What to consider when buying a broadband package:

Broadband Speed:

Broadband speed is measured by the amount of data your connection can send and receive in Megabytes per second (Mbps).Most UK broadband packages now range from 2Mbs to 24 Mbps though they usually deliver less than the quoted maximum packages speed. If you currently have broadband and want to check your current speed try our broadband speed test.

If you just plan on using broadband to surf the net and send emails there is no need to pay more for a fast broadband package. Faster packages are great if you plan on downloading movies and music quickly or if you want to play online games.

Download limits, unlimited broadband and fair usage policies

Some broadband packages limit the amount of information you can download from the internet in any month. When ever you view a web page or download attachments from emails you download a small amount of data from the web. However if you are a light internet user then you shouldn't need to be to concerned with download limits with most home broadband deals and may want to consider the check out our list of cheap broadband deals .

Heavy internet users and those who regularly download films, music or play online games will download far greater amounts if data and will need a package which offers higher download limits or unlimited broadband which has no limits. Though some broadband providers claim to offer unlimited downloads they are known to restrict the usage of very heavy downloader's by slowing down the broadband connections in what they call their "fair usage" policy. Mobile broadband packages tend to have much lower download limits and you can incur quite large charges if you exceed these.

Broadband Cost and reading the small print

It is important to take into account the complete cost of your broadband connection including all the hidden extras when choosing a package. We summarise the total cost you will pay in your first year with a new broadband deal including all the hidden costs. Some providers will offer lower costs for an introductory period, often the first three months of the contract, before moving you to a higher monthly charge. Many providers also charge a set up fee and some providers will lock you into long contracts of up to 24 months in the case of some mobile broadband deals. All of these factors are considered and clearly laid out in our broadband comparison tables.

Broadband bundles

You may be able to save money if you bundle your phone, broadband and digital TV services together. Sky, Virgin and Tiscali offer broadband bundles. If you just want broadband check out our list of broadband only packages.

Contract Length and Pay as you go broadband

Check the contract length before you sign up to a broadband provider. Most providers have a 12 months contract length though this is longer with many mobile broadband offers. There are a number of short contract (1 month) and pay as you go broadband offers available. These are often popular if you are likely to move house in the next 12 months and also prove popular with students.

Connection Reliability and customer service

Occasionally you broadband connection may go down, some providers are more reliable than others and whilst it is hard to track the exact performance of each provider our customer broadband reviews should give you a good idea if the most reliable broadband providers. Customer service is another factor worth taking into consideration; there has been a growing dissatisfaction with UK broadband providers basing their customer service and technical support departments overseas where problems can often take longer to be resolved. A number of broadband providers advertise UK based customer and technical support.

Switching broadband

If you are switching from one high speed internet provider to another you will need to call your existing broadband provider and as for your MAC code which you then need to give to your new provider to ensure a seamless transition with little or no downtime. See our guide for more information on how to easily switch broadband provider or beat your current deal.

About Broadband Expert

At Broadband Expert we research, test and compare broadband and mobile broadband packages to help consumers find the best broadband packages for their needs.

You will find broadband customers reviews, speed test results and the latest industry news on our site. We regularly check and update all of the broadband packages listed in our broadband comparison tables so you can do all of your research in one place and be sure to find the best broadband service for your needs.

With years of experience in the industry we are the experts when it comes to finding the best broadband deal.

Compare broadband

At Broadband Expert we compare broadband packages from all the leading providers. As we are a privately owned company and are independent of any broadband provider we can provide an impartial broadband comparison service to cut through the marketing hype and show you the facts to help you find the best broadband provider.

With customer reviews and speed test data on all providers you can carry out all of you broadband comparison research in one place to find the best broadband deal for your needs.

Compare mobile broadband

Mobile broadband is proving hugely popular but there are very few independent resources for the consumer to find the best mobile broadband deal. At Broadband Expert we compare mobile broadband packages looking at all the factors that you should consider before making a decision. We compare mobile broadband cost, contract length, speed and download limits. We provide mobile broadband reviews so you can hear what other consumers think of their mobile broadband package before parting with your hard earned cash.

Broadband Speed Test

Broadband Expert has campaigned tirelessly for broadband providers to advertise their products fairly to show the realistic broadband speed customers are likely to receive from their broadband provider. We collect data from hundreds of thousands of speed tests every year so we can tell you exactly how each provider performs. Our broadband speed test data has been featured on national TV and in the national newspapers helping lead to the telecommunications regulator, Ofcom, enforcing broadband providers to advertise their broadband packages in a fairer way. To check your broadband speed check please visit our broadband speed test.