Mobile broadband has improved massively over the last year or so. The reality is that 4G LTE, or Long Term Evolution, is much, much faster than 3G ever was. This article will look at whether 4G broadband is a sensible solution for students, and some of the other options available to this group of compare broadband deals users.
Is 4G Connectivity Fast Enough?
4G connectivity is certainly fast enough for just about anyone’s internet connectivity needs. Orange Broadband has found that speeds are averaging between 8 and 12Mbps, which is around the level that the average fixed line broadband solution runs at. This will enable individuals to do just about anything they could not do on their 3G connections, including streaming high-definition voice and video chat, and even multiplayer gaming
The theoretical speeds of 4G are even much better. Orange Broadband say that their connections are up to 100Mbps, and that their upload speeds may go up to 40 or 50Mbps. It remains to be seen whether other broadband providers are going to be able to offer even faster speeds but, at the moment, we only have the one provider to look at.
Orange Broadband, T Mobile Broadband — The Only Provider
Everything Everywhere is a joint venture between Orange Broadband and T Mobile, and they are the first company to have an early release of 4G connectivity. Essentially, they were able to use a portion of their 3G spectrum, and release early in return for selling a part of their 1800MHz spectrum to 3 Mobile. Following the Ofcom auction of the 4G spectrum, Vodafone, 3, O2, BT – through a subsidiary and MLL, among others, have all purchased portions of the spectrum. We should expect to see different providers rolling out throughout 2013 and into 2014, which will increase the scope of connectivity on 4G to around 99% of the country.
Work Groups through Mifi
Through MiFi, several students are going to be able to do work on the move or in the park using one broadband connection. Indeed, it’s possible to get five connections on to the same mobile broadband line with good speed these days. This is perfect for work groups who don’t what to meet at a location with a wireless hotspot, and for locations where you can only use mobile broadband as the only practical solution.
MiFi for Home Student Connections
Indeed, MiFi also makes it possible for students to get online at home with their MiFi device. Perhaps the biggest issue will be who has responsibility for the device because taking it out will mean that other people in the house don’t have a connection. But certainly, speeds will be enough for two or three people to jump on the same connection simultaneously and do fairly high-intensity activities