Broadband abroad

As travelling overseas for business and pleasure have 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.

Today, people want their broadband connection - like their phones - mobile! This increased appetite for mobility has led many mobile phone operaters 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 3, Orange and Vodafone.

Essentially, mobile broadband is accessible anywhere that the mobile operator offering it (ie Vodafone, 3 or Orange) has mobile phone coverage, hence 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 might 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. The charges are detailed below:

3 mobile broadband overseas charges

• EU: £3 per Mb
• Rest of world: £6 per Mb

Note: you can use 3 mobile broadband in countries including Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy and Sweden. To do this you pay just 10p per Mb you use within your monthly allowance and £2 per Mb you use more than your inclusive allowance.

Vodafone mobile broadband overseas charges

• EU: £9.99 per 50Mb
• Rest of world: £4.99 per Mb

T-Mobile mobile broadband overseas charges

• EU: £1.50 per Mb
• Rest of world: £7.50 per Mb

Orange mobile broadband overseas charges

• EU: £4.11 per Mb

• Rest of world: £6.46 per Mb

• 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 intermittedly.

Moving abroad?

• USA - AOL (America OnLine), Verizon, AT&T, BellSouth, Road Runner and Time Warner Cable are the main brands of American broadband. The average price is $19.95 and this includes unlimited download allowance and download speeds of 3Mb.

• Australia - Optus, Bigpond, DoDo, Virgin, Intermode and Netspace are the big players in the broadband market in Oz. Prices start at $24.99 a month (approximately £12 a month) for up to 20 Mb with 400 Mb download allowance on a 24 month contract.

• Spain - Telefonica, DSL Spain, Avonline and Direct Telecom are the main broadband providers in Spain. On average, packages start at 20 euros a month and include unlimited downloads and 3Mb download speeds.