• Pay As You Go

Our 3 Broadband Review

We had the chance to try out the Mobile Broadband from 3. To begin with, the 3 Network is one of the most established 3G networks in the UK. It currently covers over 90% of the UK population with high, consistent speeds. We’ve accustomed to the 3 Network’s reliability and great service, but how does the Mobile Broadband Service fare?

Setup

In order to fully assess the Mobile Broadband from 3, we went through the whole set-up process from scratch. The service is provided via a dongle (modem) into your laptop’s USB port, and is accessible anywhere within the coverage area. You can use the broadband service from home, work, or even on the bus without the need for a landline or Wi-Fi hotspot. The dongle comes in two colour variations: black and white.

For the setup process, we first had to choose between paying monthly or paying as we go. The Pay Monthly plan offers a free of charge modem, while the Pay as You Go plan requires that you purchase the modem prior to usage. The 3 Networks also offers free laptop offers that users can take advantage of when signing up for a contract. Details of the latest laptop offers can be found here.

The Mobile Broadband from 3 offers a brilliant 14-day money back guarantee, as you can easily test out the coverage and speed to ensure all’s good. If not, you can easily return the dongle package and cash back your funds.

For the purposes of this review, we chose the Pay as You Go plan. Inside our Mobile Broadband from 3 package, we found a USB dongle, a SIM card, a friendly user guide, USB cable, and the standard warranty card. Upon plugging the dongle into the USB port, it does all the work that needs to be done: installing drivers and ensuring you’re ready to surf the internet. We found this to be quite handy for many of the inexperienced users that would be simple dumbfounded by the installation CDs. In a mere few minutes, we were set to use the internet without any hassles.

Speed and Download

The Mobile Broadband from 3’s speed and download restrictions depend on your current plan and location in the UK. When selecting your plan, you can easily pick a download allowance between 1 GB and 15 GB per month. While such an allowance isn’t much compared to landline and wireless networks, the Mobile Broadband from 3 is designed for people on the move rather than those looking to download music and movies.

The speed you receive varies in different areas with a current maximum speed of 2.8 Mbps. In some areas, you will qualify for the turbo coverage where your dongle can receive better speeds without any interruptions. The current speed coverage categories include: excellent coverage, good coverage, and poor coverage. You can easily check your area’s coverage by typing in your postcode on the 3 website. One tip we found to be quite useful is to map your expected daily journey and check coverage for those areas before signing up for the Mobile Broadband from 3 service. This step ensures that you get maximum value for your money.

Final Verdict

The Mobile Broadband from 3 does not disappoint with its excellent service. We didn’t find any trouble in coverage while travelling around the UK. The price plans are affordable and bring great value for those looking for non-stop connectivity wherever they go. The easy set-up and instant configuration is a plus for users with no technical experience. The 3 Network makes it easier for everyone to stay connected with great coverage and affordable prices.