Mobile Broadband

The Future of Mobile Broadband

Although fast becoming popular, mobile broadband in the UK is still a relatively new technology. With new mobile broadband providers entering the market, prices are dropping and speeds are increasing, but what else is in store for the future of mobile broadband?

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Playing catch-up

At the moment, Vodafone (www.Vodafone.co.uk) is the only UK provider to offer speeds of up to 7.2Mb, but T-Mobile (www.T-Mobile.co.uk) and Three (www.Three.co.uk) - who share their 3G network - are currently updating their technology to boost speeds to 7.2Mb by the end of the year, and newcomer Orange (www.Orange.co.uk) is also working hard to improve its network speeds.

Faster download speeds

However, Vodafone wants to remain at the top of the pack, so it too is investing in increasing speeds even further, with the aim of reaching top speeds of 14.4Mb from the end of the year - way ahead of competitors.

HSPA+

Mobile broadband devices currently use HSAP (High Speed Packet Access) to connect you to the internet at existing UK speeds of up to 7.2Mb.

However, Vodafone announced in February 2008 that it would begin trialling HSPA+ or HSPA Evolution products that allow far more efficient transfers of data via existing networks.

If successful, HSPA+ could allow data throughput speeds of up to 28.8Mb - double the 14.4Mb Vodafone plans on offering from the end of the year, and far faster than most home broadband connections. It could also allow potential upload speeds of up to 2Mb.

WiMax

WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) allows wireless connection to the internet over very large areas; like your home WiFi but on a massive scale.

Thousands of individual users and businesses can connect to a single WiMax “cell”, and it can also be used to connect wireless “hotspots” or entire “wireless cities” where a whole city is covered by a wireless internet signal.

It can also be used as a “last mile” service for broadband providers to connect their customers wirelessly.

BTFon

BT (www.BT.com) joined forced with Spanish firm Fon in October 2007 to introduce a service where BT Total Broadband customers would share part of their home connection with the public in exchange for free access to the wireless network themselves.

The service splits the owner’s broadband connection, reserving around 512kb for the public service while the rest remains under the owner’s control and password protected. Customers willing to share their broadband in this way get free access to the BT Openzone and Fon hot spots around the world.

Wireless Hotspots

Hotspots - both free and paid for - have been around for a while, with major providers offering wireless access in coffee shops, coaches, hospitals and now even mid-air on flights.

Some hotspots can be costly - around £1 for 10 minutes with T-Mobile - and those that do charge invariably cost more than going to an internet café because you get the privilege of using your own laptop or personal organiser.

However, hotspots are now so widespread and popular that providers like T-Mobile are offering monthly add-ons to mobile phone packages that allow unlimited use of their hotspots, and even a £20 a month package for non-mobile phone customers.

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