Information about Mobile Broadband

Unlike fixed line broadband, where users are connected to the internet via high speed telephone cables, mobile broadband sees users sign on to the net through a mobile phone network. This allows mobile broadband customers to connect to the net anywhere in the country where there is a mobile phone signal.

Computers using mobile broadband connect to the internet via either a special USB stick, known as a ‘dongle’, or mobile broadband modems. Some netbooks – small laptops which are specially designed to browse the web on the go – have these mobile broadband modems built in.

Generally speaking, mobile broadband is around the same value as regular broadband, and is much easier to use from multiple locations. This makes it perfect for light internet users, however those who use the internet more heavily are likely to come across two major stumbling blocks.

The first is that connection speeds are, while still being generally quite fast, slower with mobile broadband connections than those made over a land line. When you compare broadband speeds, mobile broadband connections are generally between 2.4Mb and 7.2Mb, while land line speeds are usually between 8Mb and 24Mb.

Mobile broadband’s other problem is that it has strict limits on data transfer, sometimes allowing just a few gigabytes, severely limiting its use. Although this doesn’t affect internet activities such as shopping or social networking, it does limit the amount of data, such as songs, movies and television shows, which can be downloaded.