| Introduction to mobile broadband | | | | your usage in 'blocks' of at least 1GB. Any further |
| Mobile broadband is an overall term for services that | | | | usage above this is then charged at a slightly higher |
| allow you to access the Internet from a portable | | | | rate, but is only charged per MB (1GB = 1024MB). |
| device, such as a Laptop Computer. This is as | | | | The good news about this is that, if you do go over |
| opposed to 'fixed line' broadband, which is the regular | | | | your download limit, you won't always have to fork |
| broadband delivered via a cable in your home or | | | | out for a whole extra 'block' of usage. |
| office: it's easiest to think of it in a similar way to a | | | | Contract details |
| mobile phone versus your land line. You can get a | | | | Pay as you go offers the simplest option for those |
| high-speed Internet connection from any location, at | | | | who don't want to be tied down: you simply pay for |
| any time, as long as you are within range of the | | | | your usage before you use it, and don't pay again |
| network. Access is via a dedicated modem stick (or | | | | until it runs out. Pay monthly packages usually include |
| 'dongle') that plugs into one of your computer's USB | | | | a contract of a fixed term, typically 12, 18 or 24 |
| ports, or via a specialised mobile phone. | | | | months. This means that you are contractually obliged |
| Mobile broadband services typically aren't quite as | | | | to maintain the service for that time period, whether |
| fast as fixed line broadband, but are catching up | | | | you use it or not: if you close your account, the |
| rapidly: the maximum speeds on many fixed line | | | | network is entitled to request any fees remaining for |
| services are around 8 Megabytes per second (Mbps), | | | | the rest of the contact period. The benefit of pay |
| whereas most mobile ones are around 2Mbps to | | | | monthly contracts is that they generally offer much |
| 3Mbps (which is plenty for most needs, see below) - | | | | cheaper Internet access than pay as you go, if you |
| although some providers now offer up to 7Mbps | | | | are intending to use it any more than occasionally. On |
| services. What this means is that, long-term, mobile | | | | top of that, as long as you stay within your |
| broadband can provide a more flexible Internet | | | | download limit, you'll always know how much you'll be |
| service, without necessarily affecting your speed. | | | | paying for your Internet access. |
| Who are main providers? | | | | Choosing a provider |
| As with mobile phones, providers vary by territory. In | | | | Consider what your likely download usage will be, |
| almost all areas, mobile broadband provision comes | | | | how often you will need access, and how fast you |
| from the major mobile phone providers: for example, | | | | will need your downloads to be. If you are choosing |
| in the UK, mobile broadband is provided by Vodafone, | | | | mobile broadband for business use, it is wise to |
| O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Three. All of these | | | | check whether a provider has a special rate for |
| companies operate internationally, as do others such | | | | business users or multiple purchases. It is also |
| as AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. | | | | important to consider network availability: it may be |
| Types of package | | | | worth paying slightly more to use a provider that has |
| Mobile broadband packages can be broadly divided | | | | good coverage in your area. |
| into two categories: pay monthly or 'pay as you go', | | | | An additional thing to bear in mind is set up costs. In |
| in a similar way to mobile phones. 'Pay monthly' | | | | exchange for committing you to a contract, many |
| packages charge a fixed fee each month, in | | | | providers will provide a free modem stick/dongle with |
| exchange for a fixed download limit (e.g. 5GB- see | | | | pay monthly packages. Pay monthly packages, on |
| below). This can be a cheaper option if you know | | | | the other hand, usually require you to buy the |
| roughly how much you intend to use your service | | | | modem yourself before you are able to use the |
| each month. Alternatively, if you are only a light user, | | | | service. A good way to compare pay monthly with |
| or will only need the service at certain times of the | | | | pay as you go is to calculate the total cost of the |
| year, pay as you go services allow you to buy a | | | | service over the time that you will need it. It may |
| 'block' of usage in one go (e.g. 1GB) without having to | | | | even be cheaper to choose an 'expensive' package |
| commit to a monthly fee. | | | | that has a higher download limit than you need if it |
| Broadband speed | | | | includes a free modem or free set-up. Your existing |
| Although mobile broadband is typically slower than | | | | computer may already be mobile broadband enabled, |
| that offered by conventional landline broadband, | | | | meaning you won't even need a modem stick/dongle. |
| services are not usually offered below 1Mbps, and on | | | | Better still, many providers now offer a free laptop |
| average will be around 2Mbps to 3Mbps, meaning, for | | | | computer on their more expensive packages. This |
| example, it should take mere seconds to download | | | | can often work out cheaper than buying one |
| an MP3 track. Unlike fixed line services, mobile | | | | separately, and provides a straightforward way of |
| broadband operators do not usually offer different | | | | effectively 'spreading the cost' of the computer. |
| speed options within their service. Therefore, if | | | | Summary |
| speed is important to you, it's essential to check the | | | | It is important to bear in mind exactly what your |
| provider's quoted top download times. | | | | needs are when choosing mobile broadband. As |
| Download limit | | | | prices, speeds, downloads limits and availability are |
| Mobile broadband has followed the trend of fixed line | | | | constantly changing its a good idea to research |
| broadband towards imposing a download limit on | | | | thoroughly before committing to any particular option, |
| users. If you're on a monthly package, this means | | | | especially as mobile broadband is increasingly |
| that any usage outside of your monthly limit will incur | | | | becoming an attractive alternative to conventional |
| an extra fee. Pay as you go users can also be | | | | broadband services. |
| subject to a download limit, as you will usually buy | | | | |