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3 Mobile (www.Three.co.uk) offers a wide range of mobile broadband packages so that you can take the internet with you wherever you go.
You don’t have to be a 3 Mobile customer to use the ISP’s mobile broadband service and it even offers pay as you go mobile broadband options for occasional use and one-month contracts for greater value without compromising on flexibility. Read our review of 3 mobile broadband and compare its packages today.
| Lite 1GB (24 months) | Lite 1GB (18 months) | MiFi Mobile broadband - 1GB (18 Months) | 5GB (18 months) | ||||
| Monthly charge | £7.50 | £7.50 | £9.50 | £15.00 | |||
| Dongle/Laptop costs | Free | Free | Free | Free | |||
| Usage limit | 1GB | 1GB | 1GB | 5GB | |||
| Speed (up to) | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | |||
| Minimum contract | 24 months | 18 months | 18 months | 18 months | |||
| 1GB + Dell Mini 1012 Laptop | 5GB + Dell Mini 1012 Laptop | 5GB + Compaq CQ61 Laptop | 5GB + Samsung R530 Laptop | ||||
| Monthly charge | £17.50 | £25.00 | £30.00 | £35.00 | |||
| Dongle/Laptop costs | Free | Free | Free | Free | |||
| Usage limit | 1GB | 5GB | 5GB | 5GB | |||
| Speed (up to) | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | 7.2Mb | |||
| Minimum contract | 24 months | 24 months | 24 months | 24 months | |||
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3 cut its prices and launched a selection of super-cheap mobile broadband packages in 2007, and with prices as low as £8.51 a month for businesses, and £10 a month for consumers, it really shook-up the mobile broadband market.
At the time of launch, John Penberthy-Smith, marketing director at 3 UK, said: “Mobile Broadband from 3 means you can take the internet with you wherever you are. We've priced it to make it outstanding value for money; accessible to everyone, not just men in grey suits.”
Even today, 3 offers some of the cheapest packages, and the highest monthly download allowance at 15GB a month.
The top speed available on the 3 network is currently 2.8Mb, although its network can handle theoretical maximums of up to 3.6Mb and is soon to be boosted to speeds of up to 7.2Mb. However, no mobile broadband customers actually receive their top advertised speed. Factors such as distance from your local mobile mast, obstructions like trees and buildings and how many other people are on the network all affect your speed.
3's mobile broadband network is the UK's largest reaching about 90 per cent of the population. However, you should still check the network coverage in your area before you sign up. You can do this online at www.Three.co.uk or in a 3 store.
You can get more information about 3 coverage in your area from our 3 mobile broadband coverage guide, on 3’s website, or in any 3 store.
Three offers a range of pay-monthly mobile broadband packages with fair usage download limits of 1GB, 5GB and 15GB and additional data costs of 10p per MB. You also have a choice of either 18 or 24 month contracts.
One month contracts and pay as you go options are also available if you don’t want to sign a long contract. You can get a rolling one-month contract, with a 5GB download allowance for £15 a month. You will have to pay for your mobile broadband dongle, but this can cost as little as £9.99.
3 has one of the broadest ranges of free laptops available in the UK, including Acer laptops, Compaq laptops, Samsung laptops and Toshiba laptops. Its packages also come with large data allowances, ideal for medium-to-heavy users.
3 now offers sim-only mobile broadband contracts, making it even easier to get online.
If you already have an old mobile broadband dongle you want to reactivate, or if you want to switch from 3 pay as you go mobile broadband to a contract package, 3’s new sim-only plan is perfect.
3’s sim-only mobile broadband comes with 5GB a month for £15 on a rolling one-month contract. You still have to have your own 3 dongle to get online though.
3 Mobile now offers mobile wifi routers for customers looking to take their mobile broadband to the next level. 3's MiFi modem makes it easy to connect wireless-enabled gadgets like the iPod touch, gaming devices and laptops to the internet - you can connect multiple devices at the same time and without wires.
Mobile wifi from 3 is available on pay as you go plans, one month contracts and longer 18 month plans. Compare mobile wifi with our guide.
Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “3 offers the biggest selection of mobile broadband packages on the market, ranging from pay as you go, to one month contracts, to 18 and even 24 month deals, with a choice of download allowances going up to 15GB a month, and free laptop packages to choose from.
“Mobile broadband offers amazing freedom and is great for anyone who doesn’t want to pay around £11 a month for line rental or have a fixed-line broadband service. As long as you can stay within your monthly download allowance 3’s mobile broadband is cheap, reliable and soon to be even faster.”
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