PAYG Mobile Broadband Dongles

The Pay As You Go Mobile Broadband Dongle Option versus Contracts

You can get pay as you go mobile broadband dongles or contract options. The PAYG mobile broadband dongles are actually fairly cost effective as you pay a one-off price for the PAYG mobile broadband dongle then select the data capacity you want each month.

All network providers supply mobile broadband dongles. You can choice to select a package which includes a mobile broadband dongle or buy one separately. One thing to note is that many laptops are now coming on to the market which are mobile broadband enabled and simply require a SIM card to be inserted into the laptop rather than a mobile broadband dongle.

Our research has shown that the secret behind getting the best deal for a mobile broadband dongle is to apply directly to one of the major mobile phone network providers.

The feedback from our website visitors is that T-Mobile is the star performer when it comes to mobile broadband dongles at the moment.

Top Mobile Broadband Dongle Suppliers in the UK (click logos to compare prices)

   

Best of the Rest of the Mobile Broadband Dongle Suppliers (click logos to compare prices)

       

 

The Major Network Providers and PAYG Mobile Broadband Dongle Products

Mobile broadband in the UK is mostly provided by the four major players of the mobile market: Vodafone, O2, 3 and T Mobile. While 3 is the biggest player, Vodafone provides the fastest broadband. T Mobile again covers most of UK whereas O2, with its recently launched service is the fastest growing

1. 3 Mobile:
3 is the largest player and has almost 90% of UK covered with a projected coverage of 98% by next year. 3 offers speeds of 2.8 Mb with a theoretical speed of 3.2 MB. Though 3 has the maximum subscriber base, it has yet to catch up with competition which offers better speeds. 3 Mobile offers pay as you go mobile broadband dongles within its range of tariffs.

3 is currently working with T-mobile with whom it shares its network to achieve the maximum theoretical speed of 7.2 Mb.

3 offers extensive coverage throughout most of England and the south and south-east of Scotland. Unfortunately 3 has left out West Wales and most of Northern Scotland from its coverage.

2. T-Mobile:

T-mobile shares its 3G mobile internet network with 3 and offers its customers the same speed (2.8 MB with a theoretical speed of 3.2 MB). T-mobile is bound to benefit from the effort it is putting together with 3 for network upgrades which will see speeds of 7.2 MB. T-mobile includes payg mobile broadband dongles in its product range.

3. Vodafone:
Vodafone offers its users better speeds than 3 and T Mobile but does not have an extensive coverage as that of the latter.

Moreover Vodafone's advertised speeds of 7.2 Mb are available only in select places like London and major airports. In other places of coverage, Vodafone offers the same speeds as those of 3 and T-mobile, at 2.8 MB.

Vodafone is working at expanding its network to other areas of the UK while working on increasing its speed as well. Expect theoretical speeds of 14.4 MB in areas in London and 7.2 MB in other places by the end of next year.

Vodafone has pay as you go mobile broadband dongles as an option on its website.

4. O2:
O2 is the latest player in the broadband arena and currently offers the lowest speeds of all the broadband providers. With speeds of 1.3 Mb O2 has a long way to go before it can match up the speeds of Vodafone or 3. But O2 has come up with an innovative idea to counter its low speeds. O2 offers its customers free access to over 7, 500 of its mobile hotspots spread all over UK. The access is unlimited and does not deduct from the monthly bandwidth limit included in the tariff. O2 has payg mobile broadband dongles alongside its normal packages.

O2 covers almost 80% of the UK but the service is available to only existing O2 customers. The networks are fully 3G HSDPA compatible for future speed increases on which O2 is currently working on.

(Note all information is correct at the time of writing and you should confirm the latest position for coverage and achieved speeds with each network when making your purchase of your mobile broadband usb package)

Mobile Broadband USB | 3G Mobile Internet | PAYG Mobile Broadband | Useful Resources