You are using mobile broadband when you are accessing the internet from your laptop via a broadband modem.  With a good internet service provider you can access the internet from almost any location within the coverage area of that provider. You can access the internet without being connected to any land lines – it is wireless. This means that you can access the internet on the way to work or in a restaurant or hotel without being plugged in. The quality of your connection is determined by the signal strength of the location that you are in.

The type of network that mobile broadband operates on is called a 3G network. It is not a WiFi connection and, similar to a mobile phone, you do not need a WiFi hotspot. The modem you use to access the internet is usually provided by your internet service provider, in most cases free, when you sign up for a contract. The modem can either be a dongle, a data card or a 3G mobile phone. A dongle is a device that looks like a memory stick and plugs into a USB port on your laptop. Dongles are also referred to as USB modems, mobile USB sticks or portable modems. They do not need any power source other than the power obtained via the USB connector. You can use the dongle either in your laptop or your PC.

The 3™ network offers mobile broadband for as little as £10 a month, which includes a free dongle. You also have the option of Pay As You Go (PAYG) instead of a contract.

Mobile Broadband on 3™ >>