Mobile Broadband

Mobile broadband FAQ’s

With a wide range of different internet providers, mobile networks and other options of getting online it’s not easy deciding if a mobile broadband deal is the right option and even after making this decision there’s a huge range of options to choose from. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked mobile broadband questions we get asked:

Can I use my mobile broadband dongle on different computers or laptops? Yes you can plug you mobile broadband dongle or modem into any laptop or computer. It’s quick and easy to use.

What type of use is it suitable for? With average speeds of around 1.5Mbps to 3Mbps mobile broadband connections are now suitable for most types of internet use outside of heavy data such as downloading lots of films. If you are in an area with good coverage then you should have no problem downloading music, watching video clips on services like YouTube, sending emails (even with big attachments) and general web browsing.

What coverage does Mobile broadband have? Mobile broadband covers around 99% of the UK. Despite this you may find that your signal occasional drops in certain areas and that speeds can vary. In general coverage and speeds are better in urban areas than in rural areas. You can check the coverage of each provider using the check coverage links in the comparison table.

Can I use mobile broadband abroad: Yes you can almost all countries but there are additional charges. Typically these are around £10 a day and can rise if you exceed download limits. See our mobile broadband abroad guide for more details. If you plan on downloading lots of data, e.g. downloading films then our advice is to find a Wi-Fi connection or buy a local SIM card which includes data allowance.

Can I use mobile broadband on a train? Yes though mobile broadband coverage and speed can vary dependent on the strength of the mobile signal you can receive.

Do I need a landline? Surprisingly we still occasioanally get asked this! No, there is no need to pay for a landline with mobile broadband, this means if this is your only connection and you don’t need a home phone line you can save yourself the cost of your monthly line rental by cancelling it.

Can I use mobile broadband for online gaming? Mobile broadband is currently a little slow for gaming, download limits are generally not adequate either. We would advise a specialised gaming broadband package at the very least a good fixed line connection.

What is a dongle? Dongle is a phrase used to describe the devices that provide your connection, these USB modems, also called mobile broadband sticks, plug in to the USB port of your laptop or other device to give you mobile broadband access. The term dongle is now widely used as an alternative to the term mobile broadband.

How does it differ from wireless broadband? Wireless broadband refers to a home cable or ADSL internet connection that can be connected to wirelessly thanks to a wireless modem and router. With a wireless connection you can wirelessly connect your PC, Mac or portable internet enabled devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops. When weighing up the pros and cons between a fixed and a mobile connection the main advantage of a mobile broadband connection is that it is highly portable and the main disadvantage is that 3G is not as fast as ADSL or cable internet connections although once 4G is available, hopefully in late 2012, this may change. Before making a decision, remember to read our reviews from other customers to see the upside and the downside of the technology and the experience other customers have had with different providers.

How fast is it?

Most people in urban areas with a decent 3G connection can expect a speed of between 1.5Mbps and 3Mbps which is fast enough for most internet use (other than downloading films and online gaming). The speeds you see quoted in our comparison tables are the maximum speeds achievable and due to factors such how busy the network is at any given time and strength of the mobile signal you will very rarely achieve the maximum speed.

Comparing mobile broadand deals and picking the right option

We advise that you take a little time to compare providers and options available when it comes to choosing a mobile broadband package. Given that you have come to the comparison site Broadband Expert we hope we are preaching to the converted! It won’t take long, is easy to do and will help ensure you pick the right option without paying for more than you need to. Here is what to take in to consideration:

Length of contract: You’ll get a better deal if you commit to a longer contract however we’d advise you only do this if you have checked the coverage from the provider you are considering and it is good. Poor coverage leading to slow speeds can be an issue and you don’t want to be stuck with a long if the speeds are not living up to your expectation.

Speeds: If you are an occasional user and just want to email and browse the web and get online then we’d advise you go for a cheaper contract deal rather than paying more for a faster option. Alternatively consider a pay as you do deal.
Download Limits: As with speeds don’t pay for more than you need to, if you are an occasional user and don’t download lots of data go for deal under £15 or a PAYG deal.

Coverage: We can’t emphasis this enough, check your coverage before you buy and if you are struggling to decide between two providers go for the one with better coverage in your area. You can check coverage using the links on the comparison table above.

Connection fees: Some providers still charge a connection fee, if they do you can see these in our comparison tables so there will be no nasty surprises. A connection fee does not necessarily mean that it is a bad deal but it is a cost to take in to account when weighing up if it is good value for money or not.

Free laptop deals: Three and Vodafone currently offer these and if you want a laptop and a mobile broadband connection then this is a nice way of splitting the cost over the length of the contract. The laptop isn’t really free but you do get to pay for it over 24 months rather than in one go and will end up paying a similar amount to buying the laptop and dongle separately.

Mi-Fi (Mobile Wi-Fi): These devices let you share you connection so if you have multiple devices or people in the same household who want to use the same connection this can be a good option. Click the mobile Wi-Fi tab above the comparison tables to see a comparison of Mi-Fi deals).

3G – The technology behind mobile broadband deals

With fixed line broadband, copper telephone wires or fibre-optic cable is used to send and receive data. However, with mobile broadband access is gained via mobile phone networks through a technology called 3G. When you sign up to mobile broadband you receive a compact modem (a dongle), small enough to carry around with you. This USB modem can be used anywhere with mobile coverage. Your USB modem will allow you to then access the Internet via 3G mobile technology whether you are on the go or at home. The modem simply plugs in to the USB socket on your laptop or desktop so you can be online in seconds. You can read more about the next generations of technology which will offer faster speeds, HSPA+ and 4G, later in this article.

Mobile broadband providers in the UK

3 mobile broadband offers plenty of choice when it comes to finding a suitable broadband package and price, which makes it easier to find a deal that suits your needs and your pocket. You can also choose from a number of modems and dongles to suit your needs. 3 offers competitive prices on its mobile broadband packages, so you can benefit from mobile broadband without breaking the bank. 3 is the first provider in the UK to upgrade its network to HSPA+ which offers faster speeds and now has much better coverage than when they first launched. They have also picked up more awards than any other provider and have been voted best mobile broadband provider by a number of consumer organisations including Broadband Expert.

Vodafone mobile broadband offers some of the most competitive mobile broadband deals around for both business and recreational users. Vodafone scores above average for speeds and coverage though has lost its crown of fastest mobile broadband provider. After 3 Vodafone are the second most popular option for UK consumers.

Orange mobile broadband offers some good discounts for existing Orange customers and has the added appeal of extras such as Orange Tuesday’s cinema deal. They have also partnered with BT to offer access

T-Mobile broadband quote the most realistic speeds and are big on being fair by not penalising users for exceeding their data limits. It good to see a provider that is not over egging what they are selling and is big on treating its customers’ fairly.

O2 mobile broadband is probably the most improved mobile broadband provider in terms of increased speeds. Alongside 3, O2 has the best speeds whilst being reasonable value for money.

Virgin mobile broadband was a late arrival in the UK market. Virgin mobile broadband has a smaller range of offers but could prove to be good value if you have other services from Virgin such as your home broadband or phone.

Pay as you go mobile broadband

Pay as you go mobile broadband deals are proving increasingly popular with the number of people opting for a mobile broadband pay as you go option increasing month on month. If you are only likely to use mobile broadband occasionally as an addition to your home broadband service then a pay as you go mobile broadband package is likely to be much more cost effective. Pay as you go mobile broadband is also a great option if you don’t want to make a long term financial commitment. If you are unsure of the quality of connection and speed of mobile broadband then opting for a mobile broadband pay as you go deal could be a better option than committing to a long term contract in case you are disappointed with the product.

The pros and cons vs. a fixed connection

As with any other technology there are pros and cons to consider when it comes to mobile broadband, and some of these are listed below:

• The big advantage is access anywhere with mobile coverage meaning you can get online on your laptop, iPad or other tablet anywhere with coverage.

• The security risk with mobile broadband is far lower than with open Wi-Fi hotspots, as data can be more easily intercepted with Wi-Fi.

• The increasing popularity of mobile broadband is quickly driving the cost of packages down, as providers try and stay one step ahead of the competition through increasing their customer base. This means that you can get some great deals and offers with prices still falling.

• Mobile broadband offers an effective solution for those that want internet access in the home but do not want the contact commitment and expense of having a landline installed and paying for a monthly telephone line rental.

• Download limits with mobile broadband can be quite restricted due to the higher cost of transferring data across 3G networks. Fixed line deals typically have higher data limits.

• There is no guarantee of connection in all areas, as your service will may not work in areas with poor mobile reception.

• Whilst speeds are fine for most types of internet usage they are not as fast as home broadband speeds.

What does the future hold?

4G is the buzz word right now and it refers to the next generation of mobile broadband which is already being trialled in the UK and is widely available in many US cities. This will bring much faster speeds and offer a realistic alternative to fixed connections. 4G uses a technology called LTE which is capable of reaching maximum speeds comparable to the top end fibre optic connections currently available. In the UK we are waiting for the government to auction off the radio spectrum needed to supply 4G, this is likely to happen in late 2012 or early 2013.
At present the mobile network Three has upgraded some of its network to HSPA+ which some are calling 3.5G which has the capacity to double the speed of 3G connections. It’s likely that the future will involve the roll-out of 4G alongside the upgrading of some existing networks to 3.5G.

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