How to Find the Best Mobile Internet Provider

Finding the best mobile broadband provider could be tricky.

It will depend on both what you’ll be using Mobile Internet for and the areas where you intend be connecting. From the top network providers in the U.S. such as Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, some of them do better in some areas than others like coverage and connection speed. Finding the right one for you will take some research, the main points to consider, however, are the speed of the network, the coverage, and a crucial point is making sure that the chosen coverage performs well in the area where you will be using it.

Network Speed

It is important to make sure you have a fast enough network for what you need since browsing internet at low speeds becomes extremely frustrating very fast, and because you’re (or will be) paying a decently big chunk of change for it every month for several years.

Note that maximum data transfer speeds listed by broadband providers in their marketing materials are theoretical or ideal conditions rates and are almost never really achieved in real life. They are good to compare technologies, but could be rather misleading in real life.

All you need to know at this point is that Verizon Wireless, Spring, and Virgin Mobile have 3G mobile data networks based on CDMA EvDO Rev A technology, which gives maximum (data burst) download rates of 2.45 Mbit/s to 3.1 Mbit/s, with average rate under normal real-life conditions of 700 Kbit/s to 1.2 Mbit/s. Upload rate is maximum of 1.8Mbit/s with average rate under real life conditions of about 500 Kbit/s to 1 Mbit/s

AT&T has built their network based on completely different technology – UMTS HSPA, which is very well represented all over the world and is the most compatible international mobile data technology.

HSPA has slightly higher theoretical data rates of up to 3.6 Mbit/s, and AT&T promises to soon upgrade their network for 7.2 Mbit/s.

In reality, there is ~~on average~~ not much difference between technologies, but rather your speed will depend on how well a specific network is implemented in a specific location.

Network Coverage

This is crucial. Obviously without coverage, you won’t be able to connect to Mobile Internet at all.

Also the quality of your connection in a specific place will depend on a specific configuration and topology of the network. There is a huge number of factors that will define the quality of connection:

• Number of cell towers
• How far are you from cell towers
• Are you inside or outside, and how many obstacles are there between you and cell transmitters

Making sure how good the speed is in the area where you’ll be using mobile modem is fairly simple, as every broadband provider has a coverage map on their website, where, by entering your address or postal code, you will be able to check how good the coverage is in your area.

However, that would give you just a general feel. To be completely sure, test the connection speed if you can. Good option would be to use a mobile internet capable cell phone from the same operator as you are planning to use. From the phone’s native browser (do not use Opera Mini for the test as that would only test the data speed to their proxy), go to mobilespeedtest.com or dslreports.com/mspeed and write down data speeds in several places in and around your location. That would give you the best estimate.

Network Performance

Performance is ~~not only ~~dependent~~ on the network provider themselves or the quality of their network, but~~ also on how many people in the cell area are using mobile broadband at the same time and for what.

For example, if there is a lot of people around who are using mobile broadband in the same cell to download or stream large files, videos or music, your connection could really suffer.

However, if no one around is using Mobile Internet, or is using it just barely, e.g. for light browsing or instant messaging chat – you would have very high speeds. This is called mobile congestion, and can’t really be avoided. So some places may just be unsuitable for mobile data connection at certain times (e.g. Trade Shows).

Bottomline

Some network providers are better at managing speeds (or have better mobile infrastructure in a specific location), so check our site, read some reviews online or ask people you know who use mobile broadband in the same areas as you are planning. This way you would have better chance of finding the best suitable provider for you.

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