Mobile Broadband Coverage
If you’ve landed on this page, the chances are you need broadband internet access on the move. There is little point in finding the best mobile broadband deal, only to discover you haven’t got mobile broadband network coverage in your locality. In a nutshell, you wouldn’t buy a car if there were no petrol stations within 50 miles of you, would you? The same thinking should apply to your choice of mobile broadband provider. Use the mobile broadband coverage checker on our site to check 3G network reception in your area, and read our guides to see what factors affect mobile broadband coverage. And once you find the best coverage, browse mobile broadband deals from all the major providers.
Mobile Broadband. How does it work?
Put simply, mobile broadband works by accessing high speed internet via the same networks that provide your mobile phone services.
Once you find the 3G network provider with the best coverage in your area, you need to choose a mobile broadband deal and sign up to a provider. You will then be supplied with a ‘dongle’. A dongle is a small device that plugs into the USB port on your computer and acts as a modem, accessing the internet without requiring any wires. The dongle contains a dedicated SIM card and allows connection to the internet wherever 3G (third generation) mobile network coverage is available. Currently around 90% of the UK benefits from 3G network coverage, but it is important to check, particularly in more rural areas, that the provider you are interested in, has sufficient coverage in your area to allow an uninterrupted and smooth service.
How can I check mobile broadband coverage in my area?
It is important to consider that mobile broadband coverage and speed varies throughout the UK, and your ability to get online depends on the quality of 3G network coverage in your area. Around 90% of the UK benefits from 3G coverage, which means particularly in large cities you should be able to get online using a mobile broadband provider. Coverage and speed varies between providers though, so it is important to check coverage before signing up to a broadband deal.
All of the major providers will allow you to check broadband coverage and speed in your area. All you have to do is enter your postcode. See our guide to mobile broadband coverage for further information and find the best coverage checker.
Who provides the best mobile broadband download allowance?
All providers vary and offer a range of different packages, with different usage allowances. Download allowances normally range from 500MB per month (enough for emailing and general surfing but not extensive music and video downloads) up to 15GB (enough to download up to 75 four minute videos) or unlimited usage on the best packages.
Remember that the download allowances do not apply abroad. If you want to use your dongle abroad you will need to check the charges with your provider as it will normally cost considerably more. If you do exceed your monthly download allowance you may be charged for exceeding your limits. Again, you should check such details prior to signing up for any contract.
Who provides the best mobile broadband coverage?
Mobile internet coverage varies by provider, some are clearly better in certain areas of the country. With Vodafone claiming some of the strongest mobile broadband coverage in the country, you can find out more about Vodafone mobile broadband coverage here. 3 Mobile broadband coverage is another popular choice, and claims to cover around 97% of the UK with it’s data networks. Rival company Orange, famed for it’s 2-for-1 film ticket offers, claims Orange mobile broadband coverage reaches over 90% of the UK. You can also find out more on our site about coverage from the other key mobile internet providers, O2 and T-Mobile.
