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What is mobile broadband?

By Seamour Rathore - seamour@consumerchoices.co.uk

If you've heard about mobile broadband but aren't quite sure what it is, this beginner's guide will help you get on top of the subject and help you decide whether mobile broadband is right for you (12/01/10).

Mobile broadband is a new way to get on the internet through your laptop or computer. Using mobile broadband you can do all the things you love like sending emails, web surfing and, depending on your package, even watching the occasional TV programme online, through services like the BBC's iPlayer.

With mobile broadband you can connect to the internet without being at home

So, mobile broadband performs a very similar role to your normal fixed-line broadband connection at home. However, mobile broadband has one massive advantage - you can connect to the internet anywhere that you have a mobile signal, allowing you to get online on the go.

How does mobile broadband work?

Mobile broadband uses the mobile phone network to connect you to the internet. While mobile phones once seemed strange and new compared to home phone landlines, we soon got used to using them to make calls, even send text messages and even surf the net. The situation is the same with mobile broadband - it may seem strange to connect to the internet without cables, but ultimately we use it in the same way.

Advantages of mobile broadband

It's perfect for technophobes - You just plug in the mobile broadband dongle and you're online in a couple clicks

It's suitable for everyday use - Mobile broadband is ideal for anyone who uses the internet for browsing, emailing and a little downloading

Mobile broadband coverage

Three mobile broadband

Mobile broadband coverage is as important as price and speed when choosing between networks. Each provider allows you to check mobile broadband availability for your postcode. Get the inside scope with our guide to mobile broadband coverage (11/05/2010).

Check coverage and speeds for your postcode:

Mobile broadband coverage

The coverage you get largely depends on two things; the provider you’re with and where you live - but even if you have the latest modem and live in a "turbo-charged" area you still won't get the top advertised speed; distance from your nearest mobile mast, trees and other buildings between you and the mast, as well as the number of users on the network all affect the speed you get.

Vodafone currently offers the UK’s fastest theoretical maximum mobile broadband speed at up to 14.4Mb in big cities like London, Birmingham and Liverpool. However, when it upgraded speeds, it said that “customers can expect to see typical speeds of anything between 1Mb and 4Mb with a practical maximum speed of 10.8Mb”.

Mobile broadband maximum speeds are usually advertised as 3.6Mb or 4.5Mb. But research by analysts Epitiro (2009) showed that actual download speeds are less than 1Mb.

All mobile broadband providers can give you a detailed breakdown of mobile broadband coverage by individual postcode if you visit their website or go into a store.

If you sign up to a mobile broadband package only to find that the coverage in your home is too poor to be of use, providers do offer a money back guarantee, ranging from 14 days to a month. If you get in touch with your mobile broadband provider and return your dongle within the specified time, you should be able to cancel your contract without incurring any penalties.

Mobile broadband best-sellers



	SIM-only mobile broadband - 1GB (1 month)	Small 500MB (1 month)	1GB (1month)
Monthly charge	£7.50	£10.00	£10.21
Dongle/Laptop costs	£1.95	£10.99	£10.20
Usage limit	1GB	500MB	1GB
Speed (up to)	7.2Mb	7.2Mb	7.2Mb
Minimum contract	1 month	1 month	1 month