If you've been looking to go mobile with your Internet service, then you may be wondering how the speed will compare to the wired services that you are used to. This is a valid concern: it's reasonable to assume that Internet transmitted through the air won't be as fast or reliable as Internet that is piped into your home. However, it's not as bad as you may think. Let's take a closer look.

What is Mobile Broadband?

Mobile broadband is an Internet service that uses the same technology you have been using for years with your mobile phone. Rather than receiving your Internet via a phone line or television cable, you can receive the Internet from the nearest cellular tower. Even though it's transmitted wirelessly, you can still receive it at broadband speeds. Many wireless broadband providers advertise that they offer speeds of up to 7.2 Mb per second, but in reality you can expect to achieve maximum speeds of between 3-6 Mb per second.

Who Should Consider Mobile Broadband?

Mobile broadband has a great strength in that it provides you with a flexible and convenient way to receive Internet service wherever you may happen to be. If you have a laptop and would like to have access to the Internet all around town, then mobile broadband is by far the best choice. As long as you are in range of the cellular towers, then you will be able to access the Internet. You won't need to worry about going to a coffee shop or other WiFi location ever again.

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to mobile broadband. If you have a mobile telephone, then you have probably noticed that your service is better in some areas than in others. You may have noticed that in some areas it is hard to make a call at all. Sometimes your calls can be dropped. Unfortunately, you can expect this to happen from time to time with your Internet service. On the other hand, just as the convenience of a mobile phone often outweighs the occasional service problems, you may decide that the convenience of mobile Internet does too.

How Mobile Broadband Compares to Other Technologies

You might wonder how the speed of mobile broadband compares to other services like ADSL or Cable broadband. Although 3-6 Mb per second is fast enough for browsing the web and watching videos online, it still can't quite match the speeds of ADSL or Cable. These wired technologies generally offer top speeds of 24-30 Mb per second, and the service is also usually more reliable. You might notice a difference in speed when you are trying to download large files. If you want a faster service that you can access only in your home, then you may want to stick with these more mature technologies.

Overall, mobile broadband can be a great service depending on what you want to use it for. It may not be the fastest or most reliable service out there, but nothing beats it in terms of its portability and convenience.