Mobile Broadband Providers
 Providers of super-fast fibre (fiber) optic cable broadband, digital TV and phone packages that can be bundled together. Virgin also offer national broadband via ASDL and LLU for non-cabled areas. |  BT offer home broadband, phone and digital TV packages in the UK. Total Broadband offers up to 20Mb download speeds and BT Vision delivers digital TV via your existing TV aerial. |
 O2 offer a range of home broadband, mobile broadband and business broadband packages. O2 's high speed LLU network and ADSL2+ technology gives O2 customers broadband speeds up to 20Mb. |  Orange offer home broadband, phone and mobile broadband packages. If you're an Orange pay monthly mobile customer there are special discounts and Home Broadband Starter is free. |
 3 mobile broadband gives you the freedom to surf the internet when you're out and about. Choose from pay as you go mobile broadband or pay monthly broadband with a free USB modem. |  T-Mobile offer various award winning mobile broadband packages up to 4.6Mb and Free USB modems on pay monthly plans. Mobile Broadband Daily offers mobile broadband without a contract. |
 Vodafone's award-winning mobile broadband offers speeds up to 1.8Mbps and 7.2Mbps. A range of USB modems are available free with your mobile broadband package. |
Thanks to advances in technology, most of the UK population can now get online while on the move. All the major UK network providers offer mobile broadband services as well as standard mobile phone packages, with a range of tariffs to suit all users.
Choosing the right mobile broadband package can seem like a confusing task so it can be useful to compare the services offered by each of the major networks before starting your search.
O2 is currently the UK's largest mobile network provider although this is likely to change when the planned merger between Orange and T-Mobile goes ahead. O2 offer mobile broadband on both a pay monthly and a pay as you go basis. Customers selecting an 18 month package are provided with a USB dongle for free, while anyone choosing a pay as you go package will have to pay to purchase a dongle.
According to a recent independent study, Vodafone is one of the most consistently fast mobile broadband providers in the UK. The Vodafone networks supports download speeds of up to 7.2Mbps which is faster than many competitor networks. Vodafone offer a range of competitive packages designed for low, medium and high users, all of which require a 24 month contract.
3 offer the second best level of mobile broadband coverage in the UK, meaning customers in most areas will be able to receive a mobile broadband signal. 3 customers can choose from a wide range of pay monthly and pay as you go mobile broadband deals, but the network is perhaps best known for its compelling range of free laptop offers. Whether you want a high end notebook or a highly portable netbook computer, 3 has an excellent range of laptops which will allow you to get online without the need for a dongle or USB device.
The Virgin Media mobile broadband network currently covers around 85% of the UK population. Virgin Media offer mobile broadband customers the choice of an 18 month contract, or flexible contract with a 2 month minimum term. Virgin Media customers can save money by bundling mobile broadband into a package with home broadband or mobile telephone calls.
T-Mobile is one of the few mobile broadband providers to offer customers an unlimited data allowance. There is a fair usage policy which customers must adhere to, but essentially this means customers can use their mobile broadband connection without worrying about exceeding a data allowance. T-Mobile customers can choose to pay upfront for mobile broadband or commit to an 18 or 24 month contract.
Orange claim to have the most extensive mobile broadband coverage in the UK, with download speeds of up to 3.2Mbps. Orange can also provide customers experiencing problems connecting to mobile broadband an advanced USB dongle to boost their signal.
The situation with regards to mobile broadband coverage is constantly changing as the networks add new base stations and enable existing ones for 3G. To ensure mobile broadband is available in your area, check the coverage map on the provider's website before placing an order.
09th April 2010 The latest in-car technology has been unveiled by 3 at the Gadget Show. |
08th April 2010 Businesses could benefit from new mobile broadband packages from Orange. |
01st March 2010 Bundle provider O2 has announced the launch of new tariffs for its mobile broadband packages. |
23rd February 2010 Leading broadband provider O2 has come top of a major mobile broadband network speed test. |
22nd February 2010 Fibre optic broadband provider Virgin Media has launched new passes designed for mobile internet customers who want to surf the web while abroad. |
19th February 2010 Two of the UK's leading broadband providers have reportedly offered some concessions to get approval for their proposed merger. |
30th December 2009 The quality of mobile broadband available in London could be improved under new plans from O2. |
02nd December 2009 Will Virgin Media's new super-fast mobile broadband service help to revolutionise the market? |
11th November 2009 Orange and 3 have become the latest broadband providers to come to blows over advertising claims. |
23rd October 2009 Online music platform Spotify has begun to offer its premium services as part of broadband deals. |
20th August 2009 Illegal downloaders are rumoured to be threatening the future of WiFi. |
17th July 2009 The European Union has revealed that the switch to digital TV will free up radio frequencies that could be used to improve services such as mobile broadband. |
09th July 2009 The broadband industry's regulator has unveiled plans to improve the mobile services available across the UK. |
11th June 2009 A new study has revealed that the speed of mobile broadband connections is dramatically lower than advertised. |
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