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Your Guide to Australia’s Prepaid Mobile Broadband Network

Mobile broadband unlike fixed line broadband, allows you to access the Internet via a broadband connection whilst they are out and about. Many of us would like to be able to access the Internet whilst on the move. Mobile broadband has already proven quite popular over the past 12 months with the number of providers now over 10. Reports show that this category of broadband is the fastest growing in terms of new sign ups to date, particularly in the regional areas, as residents look for alternatives to dial up and satellite. How does mobile broadband work? With your standard fixed line broadband, data (and therefore your internet access) is transferred over telephone copper wires or via fibre optic networks. However, with mobile broadband, the mobile phone network is used to provide the connection. The nature of this technology means that you can get an internet connection from anywhere you can get mobile phone reception. And as this network grows, so does the ability for more Australian’s to access the mobile broadband network. Mobile broadband also requires that you have a mobile broadband modem, this is in the form of a dongle, sim card or any other form of mobile modem. This you get when you sing to a package. Prices vary by plan. Prepaid, this cost about $100. The convenience of mobile broadband It’s not only convenience that determines whether you take up a mobile broadband plan, its also the only real alternative for many. Business users will find that they are no longer tied to the office, because they can have their office wherever they want it when they are connected to mobile broadband. Students can also benefit hugely from mobile broadband, enabling them to access the Internet between classes on days that they are in and out of college. As mentioned earlier, for many regional users, it provides a very real alternative to satellite and dialup. Many, also access it (in prepaid form) in addition to their fixed line account, as an emergency. Getting started with your mobile broadband service As with any internet plan or service that you may consider, you should first consider what you want from the service and what you will be using it for. By looking at different factors relating to what the service offers you can ensure that you get a package that best suits you. Some of the things that you should consider before signing up to any particular mobile broadband package include: Why do you need mobile broadband? Is it for home use and how much internet will you be using. Is is for emergency only? If you are using it for work, you may need to consider greater downloads? What sort of speed will be sufficient for your needs? Again, this is something that will be based on what you are using the service for. How much will you be downloading ans what is the best package for you? Will any limits hinder you in terms of what you need to use the service for? What are the charges if you pass your limit? What is the mobile phone coverage like in the areas where you will use the service? If the signal strength is poor or there is no coverage then you will suffer lack of connectivity or at best very slow speeds. Do you want a contract? Most are for 24 months. Some providers offer special deals for those prepared to sign up for longer contracts such as 24 months. What sort of budget have you set yourself? Mobile broadband is usually slightly more expensive that fixed line broadband. Mobile broadband providers Gone Wireless is the only website that allows you to easily compare all providers who offer mobile broadband. Most other sites only show you the providers that offer them a commission. When you look at the different providers you should make sure that you check out the different packages on offer, the modem options available, download restrictions that are in place, the cost of the packages, and the contract lengths available. The good & bad on mobile broadband The good is that you will get to enjoy access to the Internet no matter where you are are as long as there is mobile phone coverage. The convenience and flexibility of this technology will benefit all, from the general consumer to business users and students. However, due to the cost of data transfers across 3G networks, pricing is higher, the download limits may be more restricted than with fixed line broadband, and you do need to be able to get a mobile phone signal in order to access the Internet, which means there is no guarantee of connection. Mobile broadband in the future Having already proven to be a popular form of internet access, the introduction of 4G will almost certainly help to iron out issues relating to download limits and slower speeds. The take up of mobile broadband is expected to increase over the coming years, with more competitive deals, improved service and speeds, and greater accessibility all contributing to the future popularity of this technology. Measuring broadband speed The speed of your broadband connection is measured by the level of data that your connection is able to receive and send in Megabytes per second (Mbps). The Mbps on different broadband packages can vary depending on the provider and the package that you choose. To really understand this you need to understand the underlying network, its speed and coverage. Telstra has by far the greatest coverage and the fastest speed. Second is Optus which also covers (so they say) 95% of Australia. The you have Vodafone and 3 Mobile which are really only useful for metro and major city areas. Download limits, unlimited offers, and fair usage policies When you sign up to a broadband package you will find that with the more basic packages there are download limits in place with regards to how much information you can download from the Internet in any one month. These limits are really nothing to worry about if you are a fairly light Internet user, as they should prove sufficient. Some providers now also allow you to purchase additional download blocks that can help you get through particularly busy months. Heavier users, however, may need to look at packages that offer higher limits or even unlimited broadband, as otherwise you could find your service throttled (reduced to dial-up speeds) if you keep exceeding the limit. You should bear in mind, however, that whilst many providers advertise ‘unlimited broadband’ there are fair usage policies in place, and this is because a heavy user and effect the speed and experience of other users by chocking up the network. Other broadband charges You may also find that some providers charge a set up fee, and others may require you to sign up to a longer contract, which means that you could potentially miss out on future competitive deals from other providers. This is why you should always read the small print before you make your decision. The broadband comparison tables on this site will enable you to compare different packages and see what the additional costs will be.

Your Guide to Australia’s Prepaid Mobile Broadband Network

Mobile broadband unlike fixed line broadband, allows you to access the Internet via a broadband connection whilst they are out and about. Many of us would like to be able to access the Internet whilst on the move. Mobile broadband has already proven quite popular over the past 12 months with the number of providers now over 10. Reports show that this category of broadband is the fastest growing in terms of new sign ups to date, particularly in the regional areas, as residents look for alternatives to dial up and satellite.

How does mobile broadband work?

With your standard fixed line broadband, data (and therefore your internet access) is transferred over telephone copper wires or via fibre optic networks. However, with mobile broadband, the mobile phone network is used to provide the connection.

The nature of this technology means that you can get an internet connection from anywhere you can get mobile phone reception. And as this network grows, so does the ability for more Australian’s to access the mobile broadband network. Mobile broadband also requires that you have a mobile broadband modem, this is in the form of a dongle, sim card or any other form of mobile modem. This you get when you sing to a package. Prices vary by plan. Prepaid, this cost about $100.

The convenience of mobile broadband

It’s not only convenience that determines whether you take up a mobile broadband plan, its also the only real alternative for many. Business users will find that they are no longer tied to the office, because they can have their office wherever they want it when they are connected to mobile broadband. Students can also benefit hugely from mobile broadband, enabling them to access the Internet between classes on days that they are in and out of college. As mentioned earlier, for many regional users, it provides a very real alternative to satellite and dialup.

Many, also access it (in prepaid form) in addition to their fixed line account, as an emergency.

Getting started with your mobile broadband service

As with any internet plan or service that you may consider, you should first consider what you want from the service and what you will be using it for. By looking at different factors relating to what the service offers you can ensure that you get a package that best suits you. Some of the things that you should consider before signing up to any particular mobile broadband package include:

Why do you need mobile broadband? Is it for home use and how much internet will you be using. Is is for emergency only? If you are using it for work, you may need to consider greater downloads?

What sort of speed will be sufficient for your needs? Again, this is something that will be based on what you are using the service for.

How much will you be downloading ans what is the best package for you? Will any limits hinder you in terms of what you need to use the service for? What are the charges if you pass your limit?

What is the mobile phone coverage like in the areas where you will use the service? If the signal strength is poor or there is no coverage then you will suffer lack of connectivity or at best very slow speeds.

Do you want a contract? Most are for 24 months. Some providers offer special deals for those prepared to sign up for longer contracts such as 24 months.

What sort of budget have you set yourself? Mobile broadband is usually slightly more expensive that fixed line broadband.

Mobile broadband providers

Gone Wireless is the only website that allows you to easily compare all providers who offer mobile broadband. Most other sites only show you the providers that offer them a commission.

When you look at the different providers you should make sure that you check out the different packages on offer, the modem options available, download restrictions that are in place, the cost of the packages, and the contract lengths available.

The good & bad on mobile broadband

The good is that you will get to enjoy access to the Internet no matter where you are are as long as there is mobile phone coverage. The convenience and flexibility of this technology will benefit all, from the general consumer to business users and students.

However, due to the cost of data transfers across 3G networks, pricing is higher, the download limits may be more restricted than with fixed line broadband, and you do need to be able to get a mobile phone signal in order to access the Internet, which means there is no guarantee of connection.

Mobile broadband in the future

Having already proven to be a popular form of internet access, the introduction of 4G will almost certainly help to iron out issues relating to download limits and slower speeds.

The take up of mobile broadband is expected to increase over the coming years, with more competitive deals, improved service and speeds, and greater accessibility all contributing to the future popularity of this technology.

Measuring broadband speed

The speed of your broadband connection is measured by the level of data that your connection is able to receive and send in Megabytes per second (Mbps). The Mbps on different broadband packages can vary depending on the provider and the package that you choose. To really understand this you need to understand the underlying network, its speed and coverage. Telstra has by far the greatest coverage and the fastest speed. Second is Optus which also covers (so they say) 95% of Australia. The you have Vodafone and 3 Mobile which are really only useful for metro and major city areas.

Download limits, unlimited offers, and fair usage policies

When you sign up to a broadband package you will find that with the more basic packages there are download limits in place with regards to how much information you can download from the Internet in any one month. These limits are really nothing to worry about if you are a fairly light Internet user, as they should prove sufficient. Some providers now also allow you to purchase additional download blocks that can help you get through particularly busy months.

Heavier users, however, may need to look at packages that offer higher limits or even unlimited broadband, as otherwise you could find your service throttled (reduced to dial-up speeds) if you keep exceeding the limit.

You should bear in mind, however, that whilst many providers advertise ‘unlimited broadband’ there are fair usage policies in place, and this is because a heavy user and effect the speed and experience of other users by chocking up the network.

Other broadband charges

You may also find that some providers charge a set up fee, and others may require you to sign up to a longer contract, which means that you could potentially miss out on future competitive deals from other providers. This is why you should always read the small print before you make your decision. The broadband comparison tables on this site will enable you to compare different packages and see what the additional costs will be.

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