What is Mobile Broadband? The answer to this question simply lies in the word mobile broadband itself. Over decades; users have used broadband internet connections in their homes for internet connectivity. These connections established through connecting a wire to your laptop or a wi-fi router have become increasingly popular over the rates.
But with the increasing popularity of the internet, technology trends have changed. People started looking for more flexible and updated models to fulfill their need for the internet. They started looking out for many handy and portable options for the internet. This is which led to the inception of mobile broadband internet.
Telecoms around the world worked together to provide you with the ability to use the internet without physically attaching your device to the internet modem. With mobile broadband and embarking on the true potential of smartphones, the whole landscape of the internet was profoundly changed.
To help these users, mobile broad is widely available; but what is mobile broadband, and how do you use it?
Table of Contents
What is Mobile Broadband?
The infrastructure that gives users of mobile and portable devices access to the Internet is known as a mobile broadband system (MBS). It is a system that mobile service providers utilize to give remote users with high-speed broadband Internet access.
It is often provided by a router, which is like the one that runs your home internet but is battery-operated and smaller so it can be carried around. Of course, since there aren’t any cables involved, you’re connected to a mobile network rather than fiber.
The router achieves this by containing a SIM card, which enables it to connect to the same 5G, 4G, or 3G signals as a phone. The router then broadcasts this connection as a Wi-Fi network, which other devices (such as laptops and tablets) can discover and connect to.
For this reason, mobile broadband makes it easy to get devices like laptops – which don’t have their own SIM cards – to come online even when there is no Wi-Fi in the location.
How Can You Set Up Mobile Broadband?
Devices for mobile broadband are often easy to set up and operate. With a mobile broadband router, all you need to do is insert a SIM card, make sure it’s charged, and turn it on. Soon after, or after completing a brief setup process, it should begin broadcasting a network that other devices can join like a standard Wi-Fi network.
Dongles are even easier to use because all you need to do is plug them into the device you wish to connect to the internet, and they should take care of the rest on their own.
You will likely need to activate your account with a subscriber number and/or password the first time you set up the connection using either of these, but your service provider will supply you with these details as well as detailed instructions on how to gain access.
The process of tethering your smartphone is also straightforward and essentially just involves turning on a mobile hotspot from your phone’s settings menu.
What is Coverage of Mobile Broadband?
Mobile broadband connects you to the internet by utilizing the nationwide 4G, 3G, and occasionally 5G mobile networks.
Mobile broadband availability over the 3G and 4G networks isn’t everywhere yet, especially in rural areas. Therefore, it’s worth entering your postcode into a coverage checker before signing a contract. Most mobile networks have these tools available on their websites.
Although coverage of all kinds is expected to improve, 5G coverage is still quite spotty at the time of writing (and not supported by all mobile broadband devices). If you currently reside somewhere with poor mobile broadband service, keep an eye on the coverage maps.
What Are Advantages of Mobile Broadband?
Now that we’ve talked about what is mobile broadband, let us investigate a few of its advantages:
- The main benefit of mobile broadband is that it makes it possible to connect your devices to the internet practically anyplace. You are not restricted to your house, place of business, or local coffee shop, and you are not dependent on unreliable public Wi-Fi when you are out and about.
- You can frequently connect several devices to mobile broadband devices at once, meaning that you only need one mobile broadband router to connect all your devices as well as those of your friends, family, and coworkers. Additionally, they are portable and frequently tiny enough to fit in a pocket, making them perfect for carrying.
- To receive a reasonable monthly contract price and download package with the flexibility of being able to switch deals with just one month’s notice, several providers also offer a one-month rolling contract.
- Mobile broadband is the ideal option for business travelers who spend a lot of time on trains or people who live in temporary housing for part of the year, like students, and may not want to spend money on expensive annual home-based internet connections. However, there is also 5G, 4G, and 3G home broadband for those users, which is like mobile broadband but uses a box that you plug in.
What Are the Types of Mobile Broadband?
Now we have answered much about what is mobile broadband, let us dig deeper into its types:
1.SIM Card Mobile Broadband
SIM-only mobile broadband plans can be customized and are as simple to use as inserting a SIM card into your phone. You can choose from options that are both contracted and uncontracted, so you’re likely to discover one that works for you.
Contractual alternatives provide added benefits like larger data allotments at lower prices. The drawback is that you’re committed for a set period, making it more difficult to profit from fluctuations in the market.
On the other hand, as the rollout continues, no-contract choices also provide some amazing value and inclusions, such as 5G-ready SIMs.
The days of a SIM card causing data problems are long gone. Despite the availability of large data inclusions of up to 250GB, the expenses add up quite rapidly, especially when compared to fixed-line connections.
We’ve pulled together some of our favorite SIM-only mobile broadband plans, let’s check them out:
| Sr. No | Network Provider | Plan Name | Data | Mins | SMS | Price |
| 1 | Talk Home Mobile | Data Saver Unlimited | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | £12.5 |
| 2 | giffgaff | Goody bags | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | £35 |
| 3 | Lebara | Unlimited | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | £22.5 |
| 4 | o2 | Unlimited | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | £32 |
| 5 | Lyca | Absolutely Unlimited | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | £29.5 |
Interesting Read: What is a SIM Only Deal and Why You Need It?
2. Pocket Wi-Fi Mobile Broadband
Pocket Wi-Fi is yet another fantastic choice in the mobile broadband industry. With this, you can simultaneously link several devices to a personal Wi-Fi network.
Most suppliers give pocket Wi-Fi without a contract; however, your modem will cost money. This price could be paid in full upfront or monthly for 24, or even 36 months.
There is greater flexibility today with data limitations, which were formerly rather rigid, ranging from 25GB to 50GB, then up to 200GB per month. Depending on your needs, you may have to choose between not nearly enough and an overabundance of data. To determine your best alternative, consider your current usage while you still have greater freedom to connect devices.
3. USB Modem Mobile Broadband
A USB modem can be the best choice for you if you intend to use your connection for your laptop or PC.
Plans for USB modems include pocket Wi-Fi and Data SIM offers. Contract and no-contract options are available from providers; however, you will still need to pay for the equipment in most cases.
If you decide against signing a contract, you’ll have to pay an upfront price and then significantly lower monthly expenses. You can choose a plan that meets your needs because monthly inclusions range from 25GB to 500GB.
4. 4G Home Wireless Mobile Broadband
A 4G home wireless service will operate similarly to any fixed connection; you must keep the modem always plugged in, but aside from that, you are free to connect as many devices as you like.
With home Wi-Fi, you have a few alternatives. You can sign a contract and avoid paying modem costs, or you can choose a month-to-month option but may have to buy the modem upfront.
The speed of 4G home wireless is solely constrained by your home’s 4G connection. Accordingly, depending on where you live in most places, you should be able to comfortably attain download rates of 20Mbps to 100Mbps on a 4G mobile broadband connection.
While there have historically been a variety of speed alternatives, you are now more likely to discover a package with unrestricted speeds but capped data. Some service providers still have speed limits, but these are often about 100 Mbps, which is higher than you’d normally anticipate for a 4G home internet connection.
Interesting Read: How to Get the Best Phone Contract with Bad Credit History?
5. 5G Home Wireless Mobile Broadband
The functionality of 5G home wireless plans is comparable to that of 4G, although they are more expensive and less widely accessible.
Despite using the same mobile frequencies as 4G and 5G, 5G is more difficult to find than 4G. Telstra currently has the biggest market share, serving 75% of all Australians. Around 1.2 million homes are covered by Optus, while 85% of people who live in ten major Australian cities are covered by Vodafone. You can obtain 5G home broadband if you happen to be covered by one or more of these providers.
Aside from coverage, there are a few distinctions between 4G and 5G wireless: speed, data, and modems. The average nightly speeds advertised by Optus and Telstra for 5G are 220Mbps and 378Mbps, respectively. Although Vodafone hasn’t provided any official numbers, our mobile 5G testing here can give you an idea.
Of course, these are uncapped plans. You can also choose an Optus or Vodafone plan with a restriction on your download speed, which will give you a maximum of 100Mbps.
Why Would You Get Mobile Broadband?
You might think about registering for a mobile broadband connection for the following reasons:
- You frequently change addresses or don’t have a set address.
- Where you live, a fixed-line connection is not available.
- You’re trying to find an NBN substitute.
- In case your fixed line connection is lost, you need a backup.
- When traveling, you require portable Wi-Fi.
Furthermore, there is no requirement for a fixed physical connection between your location and the internet. This makes it ideal for those who move around frequently, travel or are simply dissatisfied with the performance of their fixed-line connection.
Summing it up
Hopefully, after reading this information, you’ll know more about if mobile broadband service is appropriate for you. Consider how it can benefit you, whether it’s portability, a data-only SIM card for a portable device, or even an additional home internet subscription.
This should assist you in determining how much data you could require on your plan and whether mobile broadband is the appropriate choice for you.
Although it won’t work for everyone, mobile broadband can be a terrific alternative to a fixed internet connection at home. It might not be ideal for you if your area has poor mobile coverage or other issues with mobile connectivity.
To make sure you’ll have coverage in your location before signing up, do your homework, compare plans, and also check the website of your preferred carrier.
