Advantages of mobile broadband

Mobile Broadband Starter Guide	A guide for those who are new to mobile broadband, detailing key elements of each package
Hidden Costs of Mobile Broadband	There are a number of hidden costs with mobile broadband, which are explained here
Pay Monthly Mobile Broadband	A guide to pay monthly mobile broadband packages and types of contract
Mobile Broadband Hardware	A simple guide to hardware that enables you to have mobile broadband
PAYG Mobile Broadband	A guide to pay as you go mobile broadband contracts and packages
Broadband Comparison	Advantages and disadvantages of mobile broadband when compared to traditional mobile broadband
3G Mobile Broadband	The term 3G is explained, including how it fits into mobile broadband
Mobile Broadband FAQs	Frequently asked questions regarding mobile broadband are answered
Mobile Broadband Glossary	Key terms related to mobile broadband explained

There are a number of differences between mobile broadband compared to standard broadband that you get thorough your landline. These differences give rise to advantages of one technology over the other.

Advantages of mobile broadband

• You don't have to pay for a landline, which you may never use.
• You can get broadband in areas where there is no standard broadband connections.
• There is no excessive connection fees when you start a contract, which can occur when you dont have an existing home phone line connection
• There are many pay as you go options available from mobile providers, when there are a lot less available from broadband providers
• Probably the biggest advantage of mobile broadband is that you can use it on the move and can therefore access the internet virtually anywhere (this will depend on if you have access to the 3G network,- therefore it is worth checking the coverage of your mobile broadband provider).
• The software you need to connect to the internet is automatically installed when you first plug your USB modem or stick into your laptop leading to no hassle installation.

Disadvantages of mobile broadband

• Standard broadband is currently a lot cheaper than mobile broadband (and you can even get free broadband), as providers take advantage of the cheap provisioning through LLU (Local loop unbundling).
• Mobile and 3G broadband is a new technology, therefore some may see it as unreliable.
• The speeds you get from mobile broadband providers are not as high as standard broadband connections, although this may not be the same in the future
• The download/usage limits for mobile broadband are quite restrictive and are not designed for heavy users (the highest limit is 10GB from T-mobile).
• The cost of additional usage is quite high, for instance Vodafone charge £15 per GB. If you take a standard broadband package the cost per GB is generally around £1.
• Although you can get short term contracts you often have to pay a setup fee (or pay for your USB stick or data card) and this can be quite high.
• You are unlikely to get a consistent reliable connection as you are connected to a fixed line, rather than moving around with the possibility of losing your connection to the 3G network.

Conclusion

Mobile broadband is best for those who want to access broadband on the move and don't do many downloads. Whether mobile broadband is for you will depend on your behaviour and needs, it will not be for everyone.