Before you buy a mobile USB dongle or subscribe to a mobile broadband service, it is important that you should check the 3G signal coverage of the provider in your area.
3G or third generation mobile networks enable the mobile devices like mobile phones or laptops to receive high-speed broadband access.
Just as with ADSL or cable broadband connection, you can surf the net quicker, make downloads or even watch video clips or listen to music.
Where and how to check mobile broadband coverage? You can check the 3G signal coverage by visiting the website of your mobile broadband provider.
If you live in the UK, you may also check out for the most authentic 3G coverage maps published by Ofcom.
At the provider's website, you will need to enter the postcode of your area to know whether you can get its service.
Although the results are mostly accurate, but this information would hardly reveal the quality of mobile broadband you are likely to receive.
This is because, mobile internet performance depends on many factors like your location, the network capacity of the provider, specification of a chosen package, network traffic etc.
Ofcom's recent 3G UK coverage maps can be a useful resource In July 2009, UK telecom regulator Ofcom released 3G coverage maps by the major UK mobile ISP providers Orange, 3, Vodafone and O2.
Although these maps can be used as a general guide to find the network availability, this information was prepared by Ofcom in January, 2009, so you would need to double check the information on the provider's website.
Ofcom's UK mobile broadband coverage maps show following facts:
3G or third generation mobile networks enable the mobile devices like mobile phones or laptops to receive high-speed broadband access.
Just as with ADSL or cable broadband connection, you can surf the net quicker, make downloads or even watch video clips or listen to music.
Where and how to check mobile broadband coverage? You can check the 3G signal coverage by visiting the website of your mobile broadband provider.
If you live in the UK, you may also check out for the most authentic 3G coverage maps published by Ofcom.
At the provider's website, you will need to enter the postcode of your area to know whether you can get its service.
Although the results are mostly accurate, but this information would hardly reveal the quality of mobile broadband you are likely to receive.
This is because, mobile internet performance depends on many factors like your location, the network capacity of the provider, specification of a chosen package, network traffic etc.
Ofcom's recent 3G UK coverage maps can be a useful resource In July 2009, UK telecom regulator Ofcom released 3G coverage maps by the major UK mobile ISP providers Orange, 3, Vodafone and O2.
Although these maps can be used as a general guide to find the network availability, this information was prepared by Ofcom in January, 2009, so you would need to double check the information on the provider's website.
Ofcom's UK mobile broadband coverage maps show following facts:
- There are many 'not-spots' in the UK which are not covered by any 3G network.
- Most often, these 'notspots' are concentrated in rural areas in Northern UK and Scotland.
- There are also geographical areas where users get slow speeds for number of reasons.
- Orange and Three (3) offer wider mobile broadband coverage, comparing to O2 and Vodafone.
- Despite taking all the precautions, there is no guarantee that you will get the advertised speeds.
The quality (or the capacity) of the HSDPA mobile networks and the data traffic at a given time determine the actual speeds that you would receive. - It is not surprising to find that mobile ISPs boasting of 3.
6Mbps or 7.
2Mbps connection speeds, while the actual speeds may not reach even half of it.
If you get less than 1Mbps, it is time for switching to a better service. - Within your home, the performance could vary.
For instance, you would get nice speeds in the garden, however, you may find speeds dropping or even you may go without connectivity indoors.
If so, there could less or no 3G signal in a specific area. - It is a good idea to check whether you can get the 3G signal of a provider in your home by using a dongle or mobile handset of someone who is using the same service.
This will ensure that you are choosing the right provider and the best network. - Mobile broadband speeds can be enhanced, especially by resolving the dongle problems or by using certain tips and techniques or by using additional devices like 3G antennas.
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