Are you toying with the idea of a change from your fixed line broadband to mobile broadband? Do you know enough about the difference between the two to be able to make a sound judgment call?
In this article we aim to make it easier for you to decide by comparing such things as speed, reliability, cost, downloading options and ease of access.
Which is better for broadband speed?
Mobile broadband speeds depend on the accessibility of 3G network coverage.
The speed of landline broadband connections, on the other hand, mostly hinges on how far you live from your local exchange.
3G speeds currently range between 1.8Mbps and 7.2Mbps. These speeds are very competitive with some landline broadband connections but vary considerably, dependent upon the network being used and the coverage footprint.
As with landline broadband, you cannot set too much store by advertised speeds and mobile broadband connections become far slower outside the 3G coverage areas.
If your present fixed line broadband connection is faster than 5 or 6 Mbps, it is doubtful at the moment whether you would be able to improve on that with a similar mobile connection.
Which is cheaper?
At the bottom end of the mobile broadband deals range, prices start from £10 a month for Three Mobile's basic package with its 1GB limit, comparing favourably with several budget land line broadband packages.
At the other end of the spectrum, on-the-go broadband is for the most part more expensive than say a typical fixed line broadband provider like Virgin Media broadband, which offers a broadband, TV and phone bundle for £30 a month.
Which is best for downloading?
If you are a prolific downloader, landline broadband should definitely be the broadband of your choice.
Mobile connections at present have relatively small monthly usage limits and restrict users to little more than checking emails, some surfing and perhaps watching a few YouTube clips.
You would have to be careful not to incur too many additional charges when watching your favourite weekly programmes on BBC iPlayer, as a single one of these might take up as much as 10% of a 3GB monthly download limit.
If that is a bit of a turn-off, the good news is that T-Mobile, one of the mobile broadband providers, doesn't penalise anyone who exceeds their monthly limit, though it does come with a 'reasonable use' stipulation.
So where does this leave us?
At present, a mobile connection to the Internet is invaluable for anyone who needs internet access when they are away from home or beyond hotspots.
The time will undoubtedly come when mobile broadband connections are used in every home in the UK, though whether as the main form of web access or as a backup is uncertain at present.
It's easy to see why it is thought that mobile users will eventually exceed landline ones, though the jury is still out on whether landline connections will be replaced altogether.
The final word on this subject, and what can confidently be predicted, is that the number of mobile customers will without a doubt increase, suggesting that the mobile broadband market will eventually become as widespread and indispensable as the landline broadband market is right now.
