Mobile Broadband Guide

Unlimited mobile broadband

Add a comment (1)

Print

Send to a friend

All mobile broadband deals have a download limit of some kind - whether a set download allowance or a fair usage policy - even if they're advertised as “unlimited”. (21/10/2009)

Fair usage mobile broadband

T-Mobile Broadband (www.T-Mobile.co.uk) is currently the only mobile broadband provider to offer fair usage allowances on its packages. This means that even if you exceed its 3GB or 5GB monthly download allowances, you won’t automatically be charged for exceeding your limit.

Supplier	Package details	Speed (up to)	1st year cost	Monthly charge	Download limit	Go
	Mobile broadband Plus 3GB (18 months)	4Mb	£165.00	£15.00	3GB

While this is currently the closest that you will get to an “unlimited mobile broadband” package, it doesn’t mean that you can just download as much as you like without restrictions. If you regularly exceed your limit, T-Mobile will ask you to curb your downloading or upgrade to a more appropriate - and more expensive - package, or even restrict how you can use your mobile broadband connection.

High download allowances

At present, the highest download allowance available with a mobile broadband package is 15GB a month from 3 Broadband (www.Three.co.uk), while O2 Mobile Broadband (www.O2.co.uk) and Orange Mobile Broadband (www.Orange.co.uk) both offer up to 10GB a month.

Supplier	Package details	Speed (up to)	1st year cost	Monthly charge	Download limit	Go
	10GB (18 months)	7Mb	£266.49	£25.00	10GB	Call Orange on 0800 072 4137

Excess charges

Consumers have been warned that they could face massive charges for exceeding their set download allowance by just 1GB with some providers.

O2 charges 19.6p per MB for out-of-bundle charges, which adds up to a huge £200 if you exceed your limit by 1GB, while 3 customers could face a bill of £100 for going 1GB over their allowance. Both ISPs contact their customers before they reach their limit, and 3 cuts users off when they have spent an additional £50 on top of their bill.

At the other end of the scale, Orange charges just 1.43p per MB to contract customers, or you can buy 1GB for just £5 on a rolling monthly add-on, £10 for 3GB, £15 for 5GB or £20 for an extra 10GB a month.

Virgin Media Mobile Broadband (www.Virginmedia.com) and Vodafone Broadband (www.Vodafone.co.uk) both charge £15 per additional GB.

Supplier	Package details	Speed (up to)	1st year cost	Monthly charge	Download limit	Go
	3GB (18 months)	7Mb	£165.00	£15.00	3GB
	Mobile broadband 3GB (18 months)	7Mb	£184.99	£15.00	3GB

Monitor your downloads

Even if you’re signed up to one of T-Mobile’s fair usage mobile broadband packages, you should still keep an eye on your downloads and avoid exceeding your allowance as you could have your speed throttled.

Other mobile broadband customers also have additional charges to take into account and going over your limit can soon add up.

Most mobile broadband providers offer a download monitoring service, or you can install our free Broadband Download Monitor to track your downloads and set alarms so that you never exceed your limit.

Click here to compare broadband, and find a provider that's right for you.

Click here to view a list of mobile broadband packages

Compare mobile broadband

1.

What mobile broadband results
would you like to see?

All packages

Pay monthly

Pay as you go / short contract

Laptop + mobile broadband deals

2.

Click search to compare packages

 

Add a comment (1)

Print

Send to a friend

Comments