Until a few years ago, internet access was restricted to the home or office using fixed line broadband. Thanks to developments in technology, the age of accessing broadband internet services virtually anywhere, is well and truly here. Mobile internet services work by using 3G (third generation) mobile networks for data transfer, enabling access to the internet using handheld smartphones, laptops, or tablets anywhere that good mobile broadband coverage is available.

3G and 4G networking standards

Around every ten years, a new generation of mobile communications becomes available, usually facilitating higher bandwidths and data transfer rates than the previous generation. 3G, which became available around the turn of the millennium, is the first communication standard to allow mobile internet access. It has limitations, in terms of sometimes unreliable and slow connections, whilst the networks can become very clogged at peak times, making it an often frustrating way of using the internet.

The 1st Generation of mobile communications was introduced in 1980, with data transfer speeds of around 2.4 Kilobits per second. Two decades later 3G was introduced, allowing speeds of up to 2Mbps, some 800 times faster than 1G. We are now on the cusp of seeing 4th Generation standards being adopted, which are likely to give speeds of up to 10Mbps. This is around 4,000 times faster than 1G and will allow fast access to content such as High Definition videos, helping users of tablets and smartphones make the most of their devices.
Some countries are already adopting 4G mobile broadband, with the US, Germany and Norway being on track to deliver the latest generation, also known as LTE (Long Term Evolution). In the UK, mobile network operators will begin competitive bidding on the spectrum necessary to operate 4G services in 2012. It is likely to take some time after the spectrum auction until 4G mobile broadband actually becomes available however.

Mobile Broadband Coverage

To be able to use mobile broadband services, a good 3G network signal is required. The first step in assessing whether mobile broadband is usable in a particular area is to check network coverage. All of the major UK network providers supply postcode checkers on their websites, enabling potential customers to find out whether they can receive a good 3G signal in their area, before they buy. In the UK, it is estimated that just under 90% of the country has access to a good 3G signal, but some rural areas have very little coverage, meaning mobile broadband is not a viable option for some people.

Some of the factors that affect mobile broadband coverage in the UK include:
Network Congestion – All of the networks have a set amount of bandwidth which they cannot exceed. This means that when many users are accessing mobile internet services at peak times, connections can become unreliable and download/browsing speeds deteriorate significantly.

Obstructions between user and the network mast – Buildings, trees, walls and other solid objects disrupt the 3G signal. If users have a lot of these obstructions in their vicinity, signal strength can be severely impacted, making internet access patchy and slow. The 3G data signal travels through objects less easily than voice signals, meaning even if users have good mobile phone coverage, their mobile broadband coverage in the same place may be worse.

3G Network Coverage – the Telecoms regulator in the UK, Ofcom, estimates that 87% of the UK has mobile broadband coverage. Parts of Scotland, Wales and rural England cannot access mobile internet due to a lack of 3G coverage in more remote areas.

Ways to improve Mobile Broadband Coverage

One of the ways to improve your mobile broadband experience is to buy a 3G signal booster. There are various types of antenna on the market, designed to give a stronger 3G signal. From clip-on units which fit onto the edge of a laptop screen, to dongle antennas and external pole mounted units, these are relatively inexpensive, and known to improve weak signals.

One of the other ways of getting a better mobile internet experience is to use the service outside of peak times. This may sound obvious, but between 6pm and 11pm, the networks are frequently overloaded as this is when most people are trying to access mobile broadband services. At peak times voice users also get priority over data users (i.e. those trying to use mobile internet on the same network), meaning services are slowed down even more. Trying to surf outside of the peak usage times will lead to a much smoother and more satisfying mobile internet experience.

Methods of using Mobile Broadband

The explosion in popularity of smartphones and tablet computers has increased demand for mobile internet services hugely. There are now several different ways of using the internet over a mobile connection. From USB dongles which plug into the side of a laptop, to micro SIM cards that fit into an iPad, most of the UK network providers offer different ways to use mobile broadband. The cheapest way of buying mobile internet is to purchase a ‘Pay As You Go’ (PAYG) dongle, which will often be pre-loaded with a data allowance and costs as little as £7.50 per month, with no on-going contract.

The right mobile broadband product for a particular person depends on their budget and how much they are likely to use the service. If it is just for occasionally checking emails and browsing whilst on the move, 1GB per month may be more than sufficient. Meanwhile, those who like to stream movies and music are likely to need a larger download allowance and may benefit from a contract deal with a higher data limit, such as 15GB per month.
In all cases though, the first step before buying mobile broadband, is to check coverage using one of the postcode checkers provided by all the major network providers.