Is Mobile Broadband The Way Forward?

With mobile broadband technology getting better and faster, is the future of fixed line broadband coming to an end? Fast mobile internet really came to the fore with the introduction of High Speed Packet Access over the 3G Network. With the newly found freedom of a totally wireless broadband connection, consumers are more and more looking towards the latest USB hubs and data cards than a fixed router.

Vodaphone fast mobile broadband currently lead the way in wireless coverage with a 7.2Mbps download service, which they hope to raise to a massive 14.4Mbps by the end of the year. T-Mobile’s unlimited mobile broadband is in the process of doubling their 1.8Mbps download speed, whilst the 3 mobile broadband offers a service of up to 2.8Mbps. Also this year, T-Mobile and 3 have brokered a site sharing deal which will significantly improve both companies coverage. All three companies offer small USB dongles as a standard router, though Vodaphone have recently created a modem that uses a PC card data adapter.

If you have a phone line purely for internet access (I do!), switching to mobile broadband can save you over £100 a year in fixed line rental. With mobile broadband you can take your connection anywhere, and with the EU putting a price cap on excessive international charges too, the world really is your oyster if you like to sightsee and surf.

Obviously mobile broadband is not going to fit everyone’s needs. Online gamers may find a slight lag due to data latency problems, plus some services are blocked to reduce network running speeds. Heavy users of file sharing programmes may struggle to find the benefit of a wireless USB connection fairly restricting and also expensive, if they go beyond their capped “Fair Usage” allowance.

So the question is “to roam or not to roam”? With connection services now reaching fixed router speeds, it would seem a strange idea for a laptop user NOT to have wireless broadband. Though I’m not so sure we are going to see many desktop users carting around hardware on their backs like a Ghostbuster just yet!

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