For the technologically savvy, the introduction of mobile broadband is set to be music to their ears. This is because this new cutting edge technology – mobile broadband – will make it possible to access the worldwide web and browse the internet from any location using via a number of handheld devices. These handheld devices include PDA, laptops computers and with 3G mobile technology gaining prominence, the mobile phone will also be able to access mobile broadband.
The term mobile broadband or mobile Internet is used to refer to the wireless Internet connectivity which is accessible from anywhere via a number of handheld devices ranging from mobile phones, mobile dongles and data cards. ‘Mobile dongles’ is a more general term referring to such devices as mobile USB stick and USB modems. These devices are usually plug and play with a simple download and set up menu, which offer broadband speed internet access at the click of an icon wherever there are mobile phone base stations or coverage. Because of this fact, the Internet connectivity speeds are subject to a number of factors including mobile users’ density and strength of the signal.
Mobile broadband is synonymous with 3G mobile technology. This means that every mobile broadband device, whether a USB stick or USB modem, must be 3G technologies compatible in order for it to function. 3G is a combination of 2 complimentary technologies namely HSDPA – High Speed Download Packet Access and HSUPA – High Speed Upload Packet Access. Theoretically these technological combinations can offer mobile broadband speeds of up to 7Mbps download and speeds in excess of 1.8Mbps upload.