While the debate about whether mobile broadband will eventually replace fixed line broadband continues there is a growing feeling that fixed line broadband is still able to offer a better quality signal. Whether this is partly the reason why mobile broadband operators have hit the fixed line market, or whether they see this as a route to taking more fixed line broadband customers from the major ISPs remains to be seen.
At the moment the UK mobile broadband sector is not able to compete with competitors in the Far East where service, signal quality and availability are much improved. However, it is hoped that such high-quality services from the Far East will soon make their way over to the UK at which point we should see a more level playing field for the fight between mobile broadband and fixed line broadband.
At the moment we are seeing prices reduced in both the mobile broadband and fixed line broadband sectors at the same time as many operators are increasing their broadband speeds. This is a situation which cannot go on forever as the growing cost of new technology needs in some way to be balanced against the amount of money customers are willing to pay. There seems no doubt that mobile broadband is well positioned for the future but whether quality issues compared to fixed line broadband will continue for some time remains to be seen.