Deciding which mobile broadband provider to choose can be a difficult task. All of the major mobile networks now offer mobile broadband and many of them offer a variety of packages. There are a number of key criteria that should be considered when looking to choose a provider.

Length of contract

How long are you happy being tied into a provider for? Many providers will reward you for a longer commitment by offering cheaper monthly rental or reduced or free setup. The terms are normally between 12 and 24 months.

Broadband Speed

What are you planning on using your mobile broadband for? If you are just going to be browsing the web and sending emails then your speed demands will be lower than if you are planning on streaming or downloading music and video. The network speeds vary from 1.8Mbps to 7.2Mbps. However, these are the top speeds and actual speeds may be lower.

Mobile Broadband Coverage

Because mobile broadband uses the mobile networks, it is important to discover if you have a good service where you live. You can check coverage on the provider’s website.

Setup Charges

Some providers will charge a setup or charge for the USB modem. These charges are normally removed if you commit to a longer term contract.

Download Limits

It is important to consider your potential usage of your mobile broadband. As you have considered it for your speed requirements, you should consider it for your download limits. Some providers will charge you if you exceed your limits, others will give you a change to reduce your usage or upgrade your package. The limits range from 1GB to 15GB per month. Not all networks offer this wide range of speeds.

Who provides mobile broadband?

Most of the major mobile phone networks started offering fixed line broadband packages some time ago. Since then, they have all moved to offer mobile broadband as another option to their customers.

02, Vodafone, T Mobile, 3, Orange and Virgin all offer mobile broadband packages and you can read reviews about them here. The options vary greatly from network to network. Some offer the fastest speeds, some offer the cheapest packages, some offer the best coverage and some offer the best download allowances.

InMobileBroadband.co.uk is a helpful resource for selecting your mobile broadband provider. We offer side by side comparison of offers from all of the networks. We also provide a helpful guide to assist you in choosing a mobile broadband provider.