Compare mobile broadband providers
Compare mobile broadband providers
The T-Mobile offerings are at the cheaper end of the spectrum of mobile broadband offerings. Both its USB modems come free on any of the T-Mobile tariffs. The service isn't as fast as some of the competition, but speeds of just under 2Mb are comparable with some home broadband connections, and should be fine for most users.
Vodafone currently has the fastest mobile internet connection on the market, with speeds of up to 7.2 Mb on its USB Modem 7.2, Modem Stick and Data Card services. You do have to pay for the hardware - Vodafone now offers a choice of three different USB technologies; USB modem stick and USB modem, as well as the 7.2 model mentioned above (this gives it the most variety on the market).
3 Mobile is the only company in the mobile broadband market that offers a capped monthly service. It also lets you have access on a pay-as-you-go basis, so it can be quite flexible. The Three website spells out exactly what you can do with each package, so it's easy to choose the right one for you. All the 3 mobile internet services are available via a USB modem.
We've picked out a few of the best mobile internet services around. There’s plenty more besides to suit your circumstances – click through to find the full range.
Vodafone Mobile Broadband Euro Travel | 3 Broadband Plus | T-Mobile Web'n'Walk Plus
| Setup fee: | £0.00 USB Modem is free on a 24-month contract |
| Monthly cost: | £60.00 gets you 200 European MB |
| Extra costs: | £4.25 per MB outside the UK |
| Max Speed: | 7.2 Mb Fast enough for most downloads and online games |
| Download limit: | 5 GB month 5GB fair usage policy applies |
| Genie says: | Mobile Broadband Euro Travel is the smaller of Vodafone's business packages, and is ideal for those who are often required to travel for work. |
Vodafone mobile broadband website
| Setup fee: | £0.00 USB Modem is free |
| Monthly cost: | £15.00 |
| Extra costs: | £0.10 per MB Out of package charge |
| Max Speed: | 2.8 Mb Should be suited to all but the heaviest users |
| Download limit: | 3 GB month Medium dowload allowance, suitable for nearly all users. |
| Genie says: | This package from Three is the middle-of-the-range option, and it seems to be a great all rounder. The modem is free, the monthly payment is affordable, and most people should find that there's ample bandwith available. Existing 3 customers get a 50% discount on the monthly charge, which is a great deal. |
| Setup fee: | £0.00 Web'n'Walk modem is free |
| Monthly cost: | £20.00 On a 24-month contract |
| Max Speed: | 1.8 Mb This is suitable for most users but not very heavy downloaders. |
| Download limit: | Unlimited |
| Genie says: | This is the basic mobile broadband offering from T-Mobile, but it should be all you need to get online, and is reasonably priced for the current market. You can currently get Web'n'Walk for just £15 per month, if you hurry.... Web'n'Walk plus is slower than other mobile internet connections, but the modem looks pretty nifty and there's no limit to how much data you can download. |
Mobile broadband is a new technology that allows you access to the 3G mobile internet via a small portable USB modem or data card in your laptop. Mobile broadband internet is excellent if you are often on the move or use your laptop in a variety of locations, and this technology looks set to be a big part of the future in high-speed communications.