Mobile broadband is pretty much what it says on the tin. High speed internet access you can carry around with you. It works through a SIM card, like you would have in your phone, providing online access to devices that only run on Wi-Fi or ethernet connections, like tablets or laptops, for example.
Who is mobile broadband for?
There are lots of applications for mobile broadband, but here are a few examples that might suit your needs.
On the move: Keep the kids happy on long journeys by simply connecting your tablet to a portable router
Working remotely: If you rely on coffee shop, bar, or station Wi-Fi, you’d be better off with mobile broadband. It’s more secure and will offer a faster connection, because you’re the only one using it
Studying: If you’re a student and you’re only going to be in your house/halls/dorm for nine months of the year, you don’t want to be paying for a 12-month contract
Moving home: Can’t wait around to get your new router set up? Bridge the gap with mobile broadband
Dongles
Dongles are like small USB sticks that plug into your laptop when you’re on the go. The dongle is able to connect to the internet using a mobile signal, meaning you don’t need Wi-Fi at all.
SIMs
Data SIM cards, just like the ones you would put in your smartphone, are available pre-loaded with varying amount of data. They’re most commonly used with tablets that can take a SIM card. The advantage being that, once again, there’s no need for a Wi-Fi network to get online.
Mi-Fi hubs
Mi-Fi hubs are a little more bulky than dongles, but the advantage is that you can connect multiple devices at once. They also feature batteries that can last up to around 50 hours on a single charge. So if you’re on a long car journey with the family or a group of friends and everyone wants to do different things online at once, you can all run off the same Mi-Fi network.
