Mobile Broadband in UK

Posted by admin on 4/22/09 • Categorized as Telecom

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Mobile broadband has become a big part of the broadband industry in the UK, not just for home users, as those with mobile phones and 3G connections are set to combine with their laptop-bearing familiars over the following year and create a boom in mobile internet access that could eclipse desktop usage figures. Over 400 million consumers use mobile broadband around the world, either as an augmentation to their existing home broadband connections, or as a flexible alternative to traditional fixed line connections. In the UK Mobile Broadband is going to form a significant part of the government`s plans to offer broadband connections for every single household by 2012 and by the end of 2010 new LTE networks will offer even faster connectivity without the need for a tethered device.

At the moment the biggest criticism levelled at the mobile broadband industry in the UK is that the marketing produced by the biggest providers is often misleading about the download speeds that current networks are capable of providing. Most use theoretical maximums of between 3.6Mbps and 7.2Mbps, whereas surveys show that the real average speeds are usually clocked at between 1Mbps and 3Mbps. This might be problematic in the short term, but it not stemming the growth of mobile broadband. Coverage is also a real battle-ground, with different networks claiming supremacy. At the moment Orange has calculated that its 3G networks cover the largest proportion of the country, with more than 94 per cent under the umbrella of their mobile broadband network. However, rivals are looking to expand aggressively in 2010, with O2 planning on beefing up its own 3G network coverage and attempting to kick start 4G mobile broadband for those in key urban centres in the latter half of the year.

Experts have predicted that based on the anticipated growth of mobile broadband in the UK there will be well over 6.4 million people using dongles and laptops to get online by 2011, with a further 36 million connecting via their mobile phones. This will exceed the current number of home broadband customers and could put mobile broadband at the top of the pile in terms of sheer market saturation.

Choosing a mobile broadband provider that is right for you can be tough, especially given the number of great deals and appealing offers that fill the market. All it requires is a little bit of thought and care, with the most helpful solution being to simply take the time to assess your own needs and compare mobile broadband prices based on them. If you are looking for a basic package that does not require a particularly lengthy commitment, then pay as you go mobile broadband might be suitable. You will need to purchase the dongle up front, but you can then top up your account with enough usage to last you a day, a week or a month. If you are looking for a more consistent service then it will be cheaper to opt for a pay monthly mobile broadband package. Some now offer unlimited downloads during off-peak periods, which brings them into line with fixed home broadband connections.