Mobile broadband coverage refers to the areas serviced by a mobile network signal. The term is often also used to describe the quality of the signal in a given area or the technologies available to a specific area (such as 2G, 3G, etc.). As you might imagine, this is vital for a mobile broadband connection - without coverage for your area, you won't get any service, and you wouldn't want to end up paying for a service that you can't actually use!
Over 99% of the UK is now covered by the mobile networks, which makes it pretty unlikely that you'll find yourself somewhere with absolutely no signal whatsoever. This is one of the advantages of living on a small, well populated island!
Before you rush off and sign up for any old mobile broadband deal, you need to know that not all coverage is equal. If you're hoping to get true broadband speeds, which will enable you to stream video, quickly download music tracks, and send large email attachments, you're going to need 3G or HSDPA coverage (depending on the network you go with). Make sure that you check the coverage maps for a provider before you sign up for a contract deal with them.
Pay-as-you-go mobile broadband plans are a good way to reduce the risk of signing up with a poorly performing network. You can now pick up a USB modem at a fairly low price, buy a top-up and see how well it works without committing to a pay-monthly contract.
However, the major providers know that general concerns about mobile broadband coverage and performance can often be deal-breakers for people who are thinking about trying their mobile broadband services. To combat this, they now offer trial periods, within which you can get out of your contract if the service doesn't work for you. If this option is available to you, it's by far the best way to try a provider out before committing long-term.
You should also consider some of the other things that may affect mobile broadband coverage in your area. Much like a mobile phone signal, your mobile broadband signal can be affected by trees, hills, buildings and weather conditions. If you know anyone who already uses mobile broadband in your area, it's a good idea to ask how fast and reliable they find the service before making the decision about which provider to go with.
The major networks are all clamouring to become the market leaders, which means that they're putting plenty of cash into building bigger and better infrastructures in order to improve and expand their mobile broadband coverage. Thanks to this and fact that the providers pay a huge amount of money in licensing fees for this technology, we can expect to see massive improvements in the coverage and reliability offered for high speed mobile internet connection via the mobile networks over the next few years. Many are even predicting that mobile broadband will quickly overtake the landline version in the not-to-distant future.
Over 99% of the UK is now covered by the mobile networks, which makes it pretty unlikely that you'll find yourself somewhere with absolutely no signal whatsoever. This is one of the advantages of living on a small, well populated island!
Before you rush off and sign up for any old mobile broadband deal, you need to know that not all coverage is equal. If you're hoping to get true broadband speeds, which will enable you to stream video, quickly download music tracks, and send large email attachments, you're going to need 3G or HSDPA coverage (depending on the network you go with). Make sure that you check the coverage maps for a provider before you sign up for a contract deal with them.
Pay-as-you-go mobile broadband plans are a good way to reduce the risk of signing up with a poorly performing network. You can now pick up a USB modem at a fairly low price, buy a top-up and see how well it works without committing to a pay-monthly contract.
However, the major providers know that general concerns about mobile broadband coverage and performance can often be deal-breakers for people who are thinking about trying their mobile broadband services. To combat this, they now offer trial periods, within which you can get out of your contract if the service doesn't work for you. If this option is available to you, it's by far the best way to try a provider out before committing long-term.
You should also consider some of the other things that may affect mobile broadband coverage in your area. Much like a mobile phone signal, your mobile broadband signal can be affected by trees, hills, buildings and weather conditions. If you know anyone who already uses mobile broadband in your area, it's a good idea to ask how fast and reliable they find the service before making the decision about which provider to go with.
The major networks are all clamouring to become the market leaders, which means that they're putting plenty of cash into building bigger and better infrastructures in order to improve and expand their mobile broadband coverage. Thanks to this and fact that the providers pay a huge amount of money in licensing fees for this technology, we can expect to see massive improvements in the coverage and reliability offered for high speed mobile internet connection via the mobile networks over the next few years. Many are even predicting that mobile broadband will quickly overtake the landline version in the not-to-distant future.
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To check the signal coverage for the major providers, use their online coverage checking tools. You can find links to each of them, as well as more detailed info at UK mobile broadband coverage. To compare mobile broadband offers from the major providers, try Mobile Broadband Supermarket.
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