What is mobile broadband

Mobile broadband allows users to connect to the internet through portable devices such as mobile phones, mobile dongles, data cards and MiFi units.

Mobile dongles plug into the USB port of the PC, laptop or device and are basically portable modems.

Mobile broadband uses 3G, 4G and 5G technology.

Mobile broadband using 3G technology gives typical download speeds of 8Mbit/s and 4G technology gives typical download speeds of 60Mbit/s. Next-generation 5G mobile networks are looking to achieve download speeds of over 1Gbit/s.

Advantages of mobile broadband:

• Portability it allows connection to the internet without the need of phone line.
• There is no need for a phone line so there is no phone line rental
• Mobile dongles are small.

Disadvantages of mobile broadband:

• Slower speeds than some home broadband packages.
• The mobile phone signal can sometimes be poor
• Limited download allowance. Mobile broadband usually have quite restrictive download limits although unlimited download limits are available but this comes at a cost.

If you are a light user of the internet then a mobile broadband package offering 1GB of downloads a month is for you. If you are a heavy downloader then you should way up the download limit that you will need and the cost of that allowance.

Compare Mobile Broadband Deals and find out more about each provider's mobile broadband deals.