Mobile Broadband - An Introduction

Mobile Broadband - An IntroductionIntroduction to mobile broadbandMobile broadband is an overall term for services that streamyx tm you to access the Internet from a portable device, such as a Laptop Computer. This is as opposed to 'fixed line' broadband, which is the regular broadband delivered via a cable in your home or office: it's easiest to think of it in a similar way to a mobile phone versus your land line. You can get a high-speed Internet connection from any location, at any time, as long as you are within range of the network. Access is via a dedicated modem stick (or 'dongle') that plugs into one of your computer's USB ports, or via a specialised mobile phone.Mobile broadband services typically aren't quite as fast as fixed line broadband, but are catching up rapidly: the maximum speeds on many fixed line services are around 8 Megabytes per second (Mbps), whereas most mobile ones are around 2Mbps to 3Mbps (which is plenty for most needs, see below) - although some providers now offer up to 7Mbps services. What this means is that, long-term, mobile broadband can provide a more flexible Internet service, without necessarily affecting your speed.