An Ofcom report released yesterday suggested that mobile broadband usage is experiencing a huge increase, with over 133,000 mobile broadband devices sold in just the last month. In addition, it was reported that sales of 3G USB broadband modems grew by an average of 18% in the last six months.
On top of this, it has been suggested that a total of two million people use mobile broadband services in the UK, with 10% of these regularly using their devices not only to download, but also to browse the internet – a function more commonly performed by regular PC modems. These figures clearly suggest a huge rise in the popularity and usage of mobile broadband devices, due in part to their versatility and the increase in broadband network coverage across the UK meaning these devices can be used almost anywhere, at any time.
However, it has been suggested that the term may be misleading, with the revelation that three quarters of mobile broadband users in the UK also use their devices to get online at home, instead of installing a landline. This is especially common among students who are unwilling to share broadband costs with those that they share a home with. The versatility and ease of use of mobile broadband looks set to continue its success far into the future.