Mobile 3G Broadband

3G Mobile Internet - What do I get?

3G Mobile Internet combines the ability to use two different technologies - Mobile 3G communications and the Internet together, to give a truly portable, high speed Internet connection.  When coupled with a Laptop or Netbook PC, given 3G network coverage it is possible to use almost all Internet services as easily as if at home or work, with a "normal" broadband connection.

3G Mobile Internet Services

The 3G Internet connection is provided, "over the air" using the same technology used for 3G telephone connections - in fact 3G telephone connections are more like VOIP (Internet) telephone calls, than 2G (Digital) mobile telephone calls.  The 3G network was designed from the outset to be able to carry high volumes of data and calls as Internet type connections, while earlier 2G Digital telephones were designed to carry telephone calls first and foremost, with data connections being a second consideration, with consequently lower speeds.

3G Mobile Internet Hardware

When we subscribe to a 3G Mobile Internet service with a 3G modem, it may take the form of a USB "Dongle", which looks like a large USB memory stick, a Datacard (3G PCMCIA Card - or 3G Express Card) which fits into a slot on the side of most laptops or possibly a 3G Modem, which is like an overgrown memory stick attached to a USB cable.

Whichever of these we use, they are basically the radio (transmitter and receiver) part of a 3G mobile telephone and a small processor to control the communications connected to a USB or Datacard interface to allow direct connection to a PC or laptop.

Effectively, the 3G Mobile Internet hardware is a 3G telephone without the keypad, display, battery, microphone and speaker - basically a phone with all the large bulky parts removed, leaving a small light portable 3G modem, that is easily powered from a USB or data card slot.