Pay As You Go Broadband

Thousands are signing up to mobile broadband deals which allow them to connect to the internet on the go – without having to rely on a landline.

Tesco has reported a 71 per cent increase in pay-as-you-go mobile broadband deals, as the appeal of being able to use the internet anytime, anywhere grows. The mobile internet is here to stay.

Visit the Tesco website for further information and to purchase you mobile dongle – they have some good deals.

It’s easy to see the appeal – all you have to do is plug an “internet dongle” into the side of your laptop, or computer, and in a couple of clicks, you’re surfing the net.

Michael Phillips of Broadbandchoices.co.uk, said:

“A mobile connection gives you the freedom to get online wherever you need to. It could also remove the thorny issue of splitting another utility bill with your housemates.

“And going mobile means you can ditch the additional cost of  line rental, a move which could save you around £130 a year.”

“Choosing a pay-as-you-go option means no nasty surprises on your bill and no need to get locked into a long-term contract – great for the budget-conscious.”

He also says if you have fixedline broadband it is worth checking with your existing supplier first to see if they can offer you a combined mobile and fixed line deal – this can be cost effective and makes keeping track of your bills a lot easier.

Before signing up to mobile broadband, make sure you are aware of the download limits that apply, or you could be at risk of incurring surprise costs for exceeding them.

James Parker, manager of mobiles and broadband at Moneysupermarket.com, said:

“While the portability is great, users need to be aware that dongles are suitable for light users – fixed-line is a better value option for heavy users.”

A heavy user would be someone who regularly downloads music tracks or who watches several hours of videos on their laptop every month.

Another potential drawback is that mobile broadband coverage can be patchy – check the mobile broadband coverage page for the broadband speeds in your area / postcode.

This article originally appeared on the Mirror website. It has been edited for your convenience.

All the major suppliers offer pay-as-you-go and contract deals - visit the pay as you go mobile broadband page for links to the provider’s websites.

Note that one of the cheapest pay-as-you-go offers is T-Mobile’s dongle, which is £19.56 and offers 30 days’ unlimited internet browsing when you buy a £2 top-up. At the end of 30 days, the daily cost is £2, but you can pay just for the days you want to be online. Alternatively, you can pay monthly if you are online a lot, and the cost is £15 – 50p a day.