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What is Mobile Broadband?

What is Mobile Broadband?

Cellular Mobile Broadband Wireless Internet

Cellular Mobile Broadband

Mobile broadband is a high speed wireless Internet connection available from most cell phone providers such as Verizon, At&t, and Sprint.

How does Wireless Internet Access work?

Wireless Internet access consists of two parts:

1. A Internet service data plan from your cellular provider.

Wireless Internet service plans cost about $60 a month for 5 GB of data usage.

2. The hardware to receive and process the wireless broadband data.

Most wireless providers have free, or heavily discounted wireless Internet devices available when you sign a service contract.

Wireless Internet Cards & Connection Devices

PCMCIA Cards – Older laptops – Cellular modem for PCMCIA slot.
ExpressCards – Newer laptops – Cellular modem for Express card slot.
USB Device – USB cellular modem – Works with most computers with a USB port.
Cell Phone – Many newer cell phones can be tethered to a laptop and act as a wireless broadband modem.
MiFi Devices – Acts as a both wireless router and modem, allowing multiple wireless device connections.
Built-in Wireless – Devices with integrated hardware ie: NetBooks.

Wireless Broadband Speed

Wireless mobile broadband download speeds typically vary between 768 Kbps to 1.5 MBps, while upload speeds is generally limited to between 300 and 500 Kbps.