Broadband abroad

As traveling overseas for business and pleasure has become ubiquitous for many of us, so too has broadband usage both at home and on the move. Gone are the days when local phone boxes, combined with inoperable calling cards, were the only way to keep in contact while abroad.

Get broadband on the go here mobile broadband

Today, people want their broadband connection - like their phones - mobile! This increased appetite for mobility has led many mobile phone operators to enter the broadband market offering mobile broadband to business and personal users.

How can I access broadband internet abroad?

• Mobile Broadband brings broadband speeds to your laptop, PC or Mac via a USB dongle/modem. The dongle or modem connects your computer to the internet via 3G and is on offer from a range of providers, including 3, Orange, Vodafone, Virgin Media, T-Mobile and O2.

Essentially, mobile broadband is accessible anywhere that the mobile operator offering it has mobile phone coverage. Thus, mobile broadband can be used in the UK as well as in selected countries overseas.

• Wireless broadband is another option in an increasing number of destinations, with wi-fi hotspots popping up in many hotels, coffee shops and public areas. If your laptop is wireless-enabled you can access wi-fi very easily in many European cities.
• Internet cafes. Cheap and cheerful though they may be, internet cafes do not offer the "anytime-anywhere" flexibility often sought by heavy-use business and personal users.

What are the charges involved?

• Mobile broadband charges vary depending on which broadband provider you are with. However, an EU ruling has brought down the price of surfing on the go to make it more accessible than ever before.

• Internet cafe and wi-fi charges vary too, in some places wi-fi access is free (such as coffee shops and some hotels), in others, access for internet cafes and wi-fi access can cost up to £10 an hour.

Tips for accessing broadband on holiday:

• Check whether your mobile broadband provider can offer you broadband coverage in the country you’re going to.
• If they can, mobile broadband is likely to be the most cost-effective, reliable and efficient option for you.
• It is worth researching your options before you travel to make sure that you make the most of your trip and are not left out on a limb or with excessive usage charges.
• If you are going on a low-budget holiday or are worried about the security of your laptop on your travels, internet cafes may be your best option. They tend to be extremely cheap and suit those who only need to access the internet intermittently.

Moving abroad?

• USA - AOL (America OnLine), Verizon, AT&T, BellSouth, Road Runner and Time Warner Cable are the main brands of American broadband.

• Australia - Optus, Bigpond, DoDo, Virgin, Intermode and Netspace are the big players in the broadband market in Oz.

• Spain - Telefonica, DSL Spain, Avonline and Direct Telecom are the main broadband providers in Spain.