Compare wireless broadband plans

Compare broadband plans with wireless options

How does wireless broadband work?

Wireless broadband connections use the same wireless networks that 3G and 4G mobile telephone networks use, but without the call/text technology to deliver broadband services over the air using a dedicated data SIM card. This has the distinct advantage against what is generally called “fixed line” services in that they’re truly mobile – as long as you have a compatible device, whether that’s a USB modem, Wi-Fi hotspot device or a smartphone hotspot, you should generally be able to insert a data SIM and connect to a mobile broadband network for data access on the go.

How fast is wireless broadband?

Wireless broadband speed is highly relative because it’s a shared spectrum, meaning it’s dependent upon multiple factors: how much broadband other users in the same mobile radius are taking up, what your device’s technology capabilities are and the network itself. As an example, Vodafone’s 3G network is capable of typical speeds up to 20-50Mbps. Both figures are quoted as “up to” figures because they’re theoretical maximums that can vary a lot depending on location, local usage figures and device compatibility.

Understanding CAT

You’ll often see a mobile broadband device – or even just a smartphone – described as a “CAT X” device, where X is a number that might not tell you much about its expected speed throughput. In this case, CAT is short for category, with expected speed maximums associated with each category level. That also has to be matched against the capabilities of a given network, but even if you connect a high-category device to a low-speed network, you’ll never get additional speed.

However, the CAT rating does describe the maximum expected throughput on that device. As the speed ratings increase, carriers usually merge different channels or sections of spectrum in order to enable higher theoretical speeds, which often means that the availability of highest-speed mobile broadband is concentrated around metropolitan centres.

Where is wireless broadband available?

Mobile broadband services map almost exactly to the coverage maps that mobile providers offer for their voice services, which is intentional. As we’ve seen voice become much more of a commodity product, with many telcos offering unlimited national call packages, the race is on to provide better data services.

The catch here is that while mobile broadband is mobile, it’s subject to significantly more variance than any fixed-line product whether it’s a matter of transitory congestion due to user overload or more permanent issues such as buildings or natural features inhibiting radio transmissions.

So while carrier maps give a good broad general overview of mobile broadband availability, actual accessibility can vary widely.

How can I compare wireless broadband plans?

Speed

Mobile broadband networks speed is always referenced with the qualifier of “up to”and depends upon network, infrastructure and equipment modifiers. Typically speaking you should get better data throughput via a 4G connection, and especially with an LTE-Advanced connection such as Telstra’s “4GX”, rather than via a 3G connection.

The flipside there is that many providers on 3G-only connections, such as all of Telstra’s current wholesale customers and some Vodafone MVNOs, may find that the relatively low speed is offset by the cost.

Cost

Mobile data is seriously more expensive than comparable home phone fixed-line services. There’s no such thing as an “unlimited” mobile broadband plan at this stage in New Zealand and it’s unlikely that we’ll see such plans emerge in the near future.

Data cost is a key comparative criterion. So while those prices differ by provider, many services now offer a flat $10/GB pricing for any excess usage above your quota.

Will I need a new modem for wireless broadband?

If you’re transferring from an ADSL, VDSL or Fibre connection, then you’ll need a device to act as your mobile hotspot. Most providers who sell specifically “mobile broadband” plans will include a hotspot in the contract either at a reduced price or free, although this isn’t universal.

If you need wider Wi-Fi spread for your hotspot, some models can optionally be placed within larger antenna arrays to expand their local Wi-Fi reach or improve overall mobile broadband reception.

Your other option here if you have a reasonably recent smartphone is to put it on a charger, throw a standard SIM in it and find a mobile plan which includes enough data for your needs. The one notable downside here is that the Wi-Fi broadcast range of most smartphones is lacklustre, as it’s presumed most people using them as hotspots will probably have them within proximity of their tethered devices.

What other extras should I consider?

• Included hotspot. If you’re going on a mobile broadband contract, it’s worth checking if your provider will cover a hotspot in your plan and what its maximum speeds will be.
• Bundling discounts. Most mobile broadband services sit within the general mobile category of each provider. If you have multiple services with the same provider, check for discounts.
• Quota-free content It’s pretty rare for providers to offer quota-free mobile broadband areas, but it’s not unheard of for certain types of content. Knowing what that content is and whether it interests you is another factor to consider.

Why should I get wireless broadband?

Aside from the obvious advantage of being able to access the Internet when you’re on-the-go, mobile broadband offers plenty of other benefits over a traditional fixed-line service. Prime among these is the ability to share a single mobile broadband connection with multiple devices, both through the use of a wireless hotspot and by physically swapping SIM cards from device to device.

This can be handy for quick online collaborations with your colleagues while catching a train or taxi to the office, or for impromptu multiplayer gaming sessions with a portable console like the Nintendo Switch.

This also highlights another benefit of wireless broadband: it requires no dedicated equipment or complex installation. So long as you have a smartphone, you can use it as a mobile hotspot and connect any Wi-Fi-compatible device to it for quick and simple Internet access. Even with a dedicated wireless modem or USB dongle, the setup process is far less messy than with a standard fixed Internet connection.

In some cases, wireless broadband can even deliver faster Internet speeds than you could achieve through a fixed line. If ADSL is the only technology currently available where you live, you may see speeds no higher than 20Mbps. A solid 4G mobile broadband connection, on the other hand, can go as high as 50Mbps.

What’s the downside to wireless broadband?

Though some mobile broadband connections can outperform fixed-line ADSL, you’re unlikely to see consistent speeds rivalling a decent Fibre connection any time soon. Speeds on mobile broadband connections are inherently fickle with changes in weather, physical obstructions and other environmental factors often causing wild fluctuation speeds. In cases where you’re trying to stream a video or Skype someone, this can lead to disruptions that are less frequent when using a fixed connection.

Data is a concern for mobile broadband plans as well. Where most fixed-line plans now offer unlimited monthly data options, there is currently no equivalent unlimited mobile broadband plan available in New Zealand. The data caps that are available top out at around 100GB, which can be all too easy to chew through if you’re using your mobile broadband connection as your primary means of accessing the Internet.

If you do decide to spring for the biggest data cap on offer, prepare to lay down a decent chunk of change for it because mobile broadband is expensive. The most generous plans currently available tend to work out around $1 per GB, with that increasing to $2 per GB on smaller data caps. This is a far cry from fixed-line pricing where unlimited data can be had for as low as $50 a month.