Mobile Broadband.
Connection speeds.
Mobile Broadband > Connection speeds
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Mobile Broadband speeds.
Everything you need to know
Use a mobile as a modem
Did you know you can use your 3 mobile phone as a modem too? All the software comes with the mobile, so you can just plug it into your laptop and start surfing at broadband speeds. You'll get the same great value that we offer with Mobile Broadband, with Add-ons starting at just £10 for 1GB of data.
| 12/18/24 month contracts | Add broadband lite | Add broadband plus |
|---|---|---|
| Tariff price (incl. VAT) | £10 | £15 |
| Total inclusive allowance (MB) | 1GB | 3GB |
| Out of bundle charge | 10p | 10p |
Making sense of Mobile Broadband
Speeds, sizes and prices can make the decision to buy mobile broadband a confusing one. We believe in telling it like it is at 3 so we'll do our best to explain what to consider before getting to grips with your dongle.
When you choose mobile broadband there are three key factors to consider - coverage, reliability and speed. We have the UK's biggest 3G network which means you have the best chance of staying connected at high speeds across the UK whether you are using your dongle at home or on the move.
HSDPA Network
When mobile companies talk about 3.6 or 7.2 Mbps they are referring to these theoretical maximum speeds, not speeds you can actually experience ? that's why at 3, we say "up to 2.8 Mbps", even though our HSDPA Network has a theoretical maximum speed of 3.6 Mbps. But your distance from a mobile mast, trees and other buildings between you and the mast, and the number of users can all influence the speed you experience. Most people on our HSDPA Network can expect a speed ranging from 1Mbps to 1.5 Mbps, allowing you to download a 3-4 minute music track in 30 seconds or less.
Check the facts about mobile broadband offers. Are the top speeds offered reserved for a handful of locations near a mobile mast? Or can you connect right across the UK? Our Turbo Network covers 90% of the UK by population, and is growing in size every month. By early 2009 we expect this to be 98%.
To see if you live, study or work in a HSDPA Network area, check out our interactive Coverage Checker map.