Get connected

Most of the mobile phone companies supply mobile broadband. There are some banners on this page. Once you've made your selection we can help you with the registration and the setup process.

 

 

Get connected

Most of the mobile phone companies supply mobile broadband. There are some banners on this page. Once you've made your selection we can help you with the registration and the setup process.

 

 

Until quite recently, the only way to get broadband was to have a connection installed in your home or office.  If you wanted to move your computer around the building, you needed a long cable!  Wireless has made that process simpler, but your computer still has to be "within range" of your wireless router.

 

All that has changed with the introduction of Mobile Broadband - a relatively new technology that connects you to the internet using the mobile phone network.

 

In most cases all you need is a laptop (or a computer with a USB port) and something called a Dongle - it's a bit like a mobile phone compressed into a very small box without a screen or a keypad. It even has a SIM card inside.

 

But don't think of it as a mobile phone, because it's not !   It does however use the same technology as mobile phones, so wherever your dongle can receive a mobile phone signal it can connect you to the internet.

Of course just like with a mobile phone, the amount of signal available varies and so the connection speed changes accordingly. More signal equals a better connection.  In the past, this has always been a problem for Mobile Broadband users but now that coverage has been extended by the mobile phone companies it's not nearly so much of an issue.

 

If you were choosing a mobile phone, there are some decisions to be made.  The same is true for choosing a Mobile Broadband package.  However as usual it's not always that straightforward so here are a few options to consider:

 

Network / Operator

All of the major UK mobile operators supply Mobile Broadband. So that includes Vodaphone, T-Mobile, 02, Orange, Virgin and Three

If you are an existing customer then you may have the option of negotiating a better deal. Also, network coverage varies slightly between operators, so you may find that some operators provide better coverage in your area than others.

 

Download Allowance

Think of your data usage like you think of minutes of talk-time with a mobile phone.  The more you talk, the more minutes you use.  Surfing the internet uses data, which is usually measured in Gigabytes (GB).  Don't worry about this, just remember that you can run out of your data allowance just as you can run out of talk-time.

 

Some Mobile Broadband packages have a fixed data allowance, and some offer an "unlimited" allowance.   Beware however, as in most cases "unlimited" actually means "within acceptable limits."

If you run out of allowance on your PAYG connection, then you simply won't be able to continue using the internet until you top-up again.  However if you're a contract user, most operators will allow you ton continue but charge a much higher price for your extra data allowance.  For most contract users, this isn't likely to happen but it can be very expensive, so beware!

 

 

Pay as You Go / Contract

Again, it's just like mobile phones.  PayAsYouGo dongles need to be "topped up" with data, in the same was as you need to by talk-time for a mobile phone.  It's quick and easy to do and means that you only pay when you actually connect to the internet. There are no minimum term contracts, no credit checks and you don't need a bank account or debit card. (although it's easier to top up if you do)
 

The alternative is so sign up for a contract and pay a fixed amount each month. Most of the contracts available provide a fairly high data allowance and you won't need to worry about topping up. Most operators will ask you to sign up for at least an 18month contract.

 

Speed

Mobile Broadband is often sold on the basis that it's "as fast as home broadband"   Most of the USB Dongles on the market at the moment can connect at speeds of up to 3.6Mb  - which is comparable to home broadband speeds where the connection can be anything between 1 and 8Mb    There are providers offering up to 7.2Mb connections but at the moment this speed is only available in a few areas of the UK.

 

If you're just going to occasionally surf the web, send emails and download a few small files then PAYG is probably fine.  If you're going to use your Mobile Broadband as your main internet connection then a Contract is probably going to be cheaper, faster and less hassle.

 

It's also worth noting that downloading large amounts of music etc with a Mobile Broadband connection can cause problems.  Although it does work, the performance and speed of a mobile connection changes rapidly. Downloading lots of files or using your webcam etc  will also eat up your data allowance more quickly!

 

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