3 Mobile broadband reviewed

3 aims to bring mobile broadband to the masses with its new 3G broadband service.

They recently announced a new mobile broadband offering starting from just £10 per month.  It runs over 3’s so-called 3G ‘turbo’ network and it’s an enhanced version of 3G that offers download speeds of up to 2.8Mbps. 

However, you’ll need to live in a suitable area to get the full benefits of this speed.  3 are upgrading their network in the coming months so it’s likely to hit most major cities and densely populated areas.

So what does it offer?

Essentially, it offers cheap mobile broadband access on the move.  A user plugs in the 3G USB modem into their laptop or PC and can start surfing.

3 clearly isn’t just aiming this service at mobile business workers, but is also targetting light users, students, and regular internet users that may want the benefits of broadband on the move.

There is a choice of 12, 18 or 24 month contracts, and this determines how much a user pays for the required 3G USB modem.  Existing 3 customers can get the modem for free on most packages.  It’s compatible with PCs and MACs.

The service can also be used abroad.  To be more specific, anywhere where there is a 3 network. These countries are Ireland, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Hong Kong and Australia.  Speeds may vary depending on whether the network is 2G or 3G, both of which are supported.

Soon after 3 announced its mobile broadband service, Vodafone announced a new higher speed mobile broadband service that offers up to 5Mbps download speeds.  Vodafone reported that demand for the service was unprecedented following the introduction of their first 3G mobile broadband service.

It was only natural for 3 to continue as it normally does by undercutting rivals with a cheaper alternative.  So how good is this latest offering?  Below are the pros and cons.

Pros

• Quick and easy wireless broadband suitable for light/medium home or mobile users.
• Great for those with no fixed abode (e.g. Students or frequent travellers).
• Up to 2.8Mbps broadband speed favours well with many budget landline broadband packages.
• 3 provide up-front usage limits, which we like, rather than ‘unlimited’, which is often open to interpretation.

Cons

• The 2.8Mbps speed is dependant on network coverage, although this is expanding.
• The USB modem comes at an extra cost on some packages.
• It is not really suitable for heavy usage.  If you download a lot of movies and media rich content, there are more cost effective and faster landline broadband services.

Related links

• 3 Mobile Broadband homepage
• Vodafone Mobile Broadband homepage