Frequently asked questions, these are some of the most frequently asked questions about mobile broadband, here we answer your most frequently asked questions.

Do I need a mobile phone to get mobile broadband on my PC or laptop?
No – you can get mobile broadband even if you’ve never owned a mobile phone. However, you may get a discount on your mobile broadband service if you have a mobile phone with the same provider.

What do I need to get mobile broadband?
You have to sign up with one of the mobile operators that offers mobile broadband – 3 (3 offers payg) O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone. You have to buy a small piece of equipment called a ‘dongle’ that you just plug into one of your computer’s USB ports and follow the dongle set up process (you may need to download additional software if you are using an Apple Mac computer).

Do I need a fixed phone line to get mobile broadband?
No – unlike traditional broadband, you don’t need to pay fixed phone-line rental to get mobile broadband.

Can you get mobile broadband everywhere in the UK?
Although the 3G mobile signal covers, at best, 90% of the UK population, coverage can be patchy in rural areas. You can check your provider's 3G coverage on its website. You may also run into problems if you live somewhere where mobile signals may be blocked by your surroundings.

What’s HSDPA?
HSDPA stands for High Speed Downlink Packet Access. It’s sometimes also referred to as 3G+ or 3.5G. It’s basically a faster form of 3G, meaning that your mobile broadband speed will be faster wherever there’s an HSDPA/3G+ signal. HSDPA/3G+ coverage isn’t quite as widespread as standard 3G, but both coverage and potential speeds are increasing.

Is mobile broadband a replacement for fixed-line broadband?
If you’re a fairly light user, mobile broadband could be a good alternative to fixed-line broadband as it's affordable for lower broadband users and has the flexibility of being able to use it wherever there's a 3G mobile signal. But mobile broadband speeds and internet usage caps are fairly low compared with many fixed-line broadband deals, and exceeding usage can be very expensive, so heavy broadband users might find mobile broadband restrictive.

Can I use mobile broadband abroad?
Yes – as long as there’s a 3G signal. But overseas mobile broadband usage won’t be included in your fixed fee and costs can be very expensive – anything up to around £6 per megabyte (MB) depending on your network and the country you’re going to. A single music track is around 4MB – so costs for using mobile broadband can build up very quickly.