Hands0n
26th May 2008, 08:43 PM
I have recently held a suspicion that the Mobile Broadband industry would follow down the same rocky path as the terrestrial broadband crowd. The same path that had lead the ISP community up the steps to OFCOM's front door. For too long the "up to nMbps speed" promise has been held prominent in the sales proposition. But as anyone who has ADSL-delivered broadband will know, it is extremely rare to see these [maximum] speeds as a reality. The same is becoming painfully clear with Mobile Broadband where even Vodafone's 7.2Mbps HSDPA users are complaining about sub-Megabit speeds in 7.2Mbps areas.
For sure, there can be any number of technical and circumstantial reasons why 7.2Mbps cannot be realised across Vodafone's HSDPA network. The same would be so for any other mobile network operator's 3G/HSDPA platform.
So it was with some appreciation for their honesty that I have been reading what Three has to say on the matter of their own HSDPA.
Making sense of Mobile Broadband
Speeds, sizes and prices can make the decision to buy mobile broadband a confusing one. We believe in telling it like it is at 3 so we'll do our best to explain what to consider before getting to grips with your dongle.
When you choose mobile broadband there are three key factors to consider - coverage, reliability and speed. We have the UK's biggest 3G network which means you have the best chance of staying connected at high speeds across the UK whether you are using your dongle at home or on the move.
Turbo Network
When mobile companies talk about 3.6 or 7.2 Mbps they are referring to these theoretical maximum speeds, not speeds you can actually experience that's why at 3, we say "up to 2.8 Mbps", even though our Turbo Network has a theoretical maximum speed of 3.6 Mbps. But your distance from a mobile mast, trees and other buildings between you and the mast, and the number of users can all influence the speed you experience. Most people on our Turbo Network can expect a speed ranging from 1Mbps to 1.5 Mbps, allowing you to download a 3-4 minute music track in 30 seconds or less.
Check the facts about mobile broadband offers. Are the top speeds offered reserved for a handful of locations near a mobile mast? Or can you connect right across the UK? Our Turbo Network covers 90% of the UK by population, and is growing in size every month. By early 2009 we expect this to be 98%.
Source URL: http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/connection_speeds.omp
One has to hand it to Three, the foregoing is a very honest and frank statement of the facts relating to mobile broadband and what to expect in terms of data speeds. It is indeed a leading step to take and I would encourage the other mobile operators to do likewise.
But we need more....
There have been very many stories in the media, and no doubt even more that simply do not get reported, of people suffering stupendous charges for using mobile data when roaming abroad. All of the mobile network operators will put up a defence by stating that the roaming charges are available on their websites. But as anyone who has tried to locate these will know, they are often buried deep within the website. These are not impossible to find, but for information that is so vital to a customer's financial well-being the lack of prominence is tantamount to wanton obscurity. The only people to gain with these charges are the mobile network operators, there is no possible benefit to their customer of [effectively] hiding these charges away.
More from Three's FAQ (why on earth would anyone look there for tariff information?):-
Using it overseas
· Can I use the modem overseas on a computer or on my mobile?
Yes, you can use the 3 USB Modem overseas.
· What countries can I use it in?
3 Like Home: You can use it in countries where there is a 3 network. These countries are Ireland, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Hong Kong and Australia. Note that when you are outside 3 coverage, you may roam onto another network where internet access is charged for at £3 or £6 per MB.
Other countries: We also offer international data roaming from certain other international destinations. See the data roaming page (http://ask3.three.co.uk/SRVS/Data/Hutch/KnowledgeBases/Ask3/document/web/dataroaming.htm) for details or check our price book* (http://www.three.co.uk/customer/linkdocument.omp?cid=1089021441077) for the latest list of countries and charges.
That all looks very reasonable, but I am still not sure from that information what the charge will be for where I am going. But there are a couple of links that I could use after all so no harm done, right? Wrong, the link to the "data roaming page" still does not give any information unless you read it very carefully and observe that there is yet another link that suggests the information you are after is not too far away .....
We now provide international data roaming in some countries. Pay As You Go customers also have international access, but from fewer countries. Note that the availability and charging of data roaming also applies to Mobile Broadband and the USB Modem.
3 Like Home countries
In 3 Like Home countries, data access works exactly the same way as it does in the UK. Bundle allowances apply and all the charging is at the same rates as in the UK. All the internet services work, including X-Series.
International networks
Some international roaming networks also allow data roaming. Note the following differences and exceptions:
Access will often be slower than in the UK because not all networks abroad are 3G.
International data usage is always charged for. Bundle allowances do not apply (except 3 Like Home).
New data roaming networks are constantly being added to our list of network partners.
Not all roaming networks in a country offer data roaming. We only advertise data roaming in a country if our preferred network partner in that country offers data roaming.
You can opt out of international data access via My3. However, you would still have access from 3 Like Home networks.
In addition to the internet, MMS is also available on networks that allow data roaming. Pricing for messages is as usual there are no charges for the data you use by sending or receiving picture or video messages.
Note that not all data services will work when a customer is roaming on an international network.
services and products that will work
services and products that will not work
See this list* (http://ask3.three.co.uk/SRVS/Data/Hutch/KnowledgeBases/Ask3/document/web/dataroaming_table.htm) for countries and networks where you can roam, and how much it costs.
Note: Its not enough just to be in the country your mobile or USB Modem must be roaming on the correct network in that country to get data access.
And there it is, third line up from the bottom of the page, a link that actually takes you to a table of countries and charges, at long last. It has only taken four layered links to drill down into the data, and then only if you are prepared to read each page carefully to find the links and try them. But how many people would do that? Those in the know about Internet user's habits will tell you that generally people do not quest for information quite as thoroughly as I have here.
If one were cynical there could be a belief form that Three's marketeers know very well the general Internet user's surfing habits. Continuing along that theme one could believe that the essential tariff information is very carefully squirrelled away sufficient to be obscure, but providing enough evidence to any enquiry by OFCOM or OTELO. But that would be a very cynical viewpoint to take. :)
For sure, there can be any number of technical and circumstantial reasons why 7.2Mbps cannot be realised across Vodafone's HSDPA network. The same would be so for any other mobile network operator's 3G/HSDPA platform.
So it was with some appreciation for their honesty that I have been reading what Three has to say on the matter of their own HSDPA.
Making sense of Mobile Broadband
Speeds, sizes and prices can make the decision to buy mobile broadband a confusing one. We believe in telling it like it is at 3 so we'll do our best to explain what to consider before getting to grips with your dongle.
When you choose mobile broadband there are three key factors to consider - coverage, reliability and speed. We have the UK's biggest 3G network which means you have the best chance of staying connected at high speeds across the UK whether you are using your dongle at home or on the move.
Turbo Network
When mobile companies talk about 3.6 or 7.2 Mbps they are referring to these theoretical maximum speeds, not speeds you can actually experience that's why at 3, we say "up to 2.8 Mbps", even though our Turbo Network has a theoretical maximum speed of 3.6 Mbps. But your distance from a mobile mast, trees and other buildings between you and the mast, and the number of users can all influence the speed you experience. Most people on our Turbo Network can expect a speed ranging from 1Mbps to 1.5 Mbps, allowing you to download a 3-4 minute music track in 30 seconds or less.
Check the facts about mobile broadband offers. Are the top speeds offered reserved for a handful of locations near a mobile mast? Or can you connect right across the UK? Our Turbo Network covers 90% of the UK by population, and is growing in size every month. By early 2009 we expect this to be 98%.
Source URL: http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/connection_speeds.omp
One has to hand it to Three, the foregoing is a very honest and frank statement of the facts relating to mobile broadband and what to expect in terms of data speeds. It is indeed a leading step to take and I would encourage the other mobile operators to do likewise.
But we need more....
There have been very many stories in the media, and no doubt even more that simply do not get reported, of people suffering stupendous charges for using mobile data when roaming abroad. All of the mobile network operators will put up a defence by stating that the roaming charges are available on their websites. But as anyone who has tried to locate these will know, they are often buried deep within the website. These are not impossible to find, but for information that is so vital to a customer's financial well-being the lack of prominence is tantamount to wanton obscurity. The only people to gain with these charges are the mobile network operators, there is no possible benefit to their customer of [effectively] hiding these charges away.
More from Three's FAQ (why on earth would anyone look there for tariff information?):-
Using it overseas
· Can I use the modem overseas on a computer or on my mobile?
Yes, you can use the 3 USB Modem overseas.
· What countries can I use it in?
3 Like Home: You can use it in countries where there is a 3 network. These countries are Ireland, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Hong Kong and Australia. Note that when you are outside 3 coverage, you may roam onto another network where internet access is charged for at £3 or £6 per MB.
Other countries: We also offer international data roaming from certain other international destinations. See the data roaming page (http://ask3.three.co.uk/SRVS/Data/Hutch/KnowledgeBases/Ask3/document/web/dataroaming.htm) for details or check our price book* (http://www.three.co.uk/customer/linkdocument.omp?cid=1089021441077) for the latest list of countries and charges.
That all looks very reasonable, but I am still not sure from that information what the charge will be for where I am going. But there are a couple of links that I could use after all so no harm done, right? Wrong, the link to the "data roaming page" still does not give any information unless you read it very carefully and observe that there is yet another link that suggests the information you are after is not too far away .....
We now provide international data roaming in some countries. Pay As You Go customers also have international access, but from fewer countries. Note that the availability and charging of data roaming also applies to Mobile Broadband and the USB Modem.
3 Like Home countries
In 3 Like Home countries, data access works exactly the same way as it does in the UK. Bundle allowances apply and all the charging is at the same rates as in the UK. All the internet services work, including X-Series.
International networks
Some international roaming networks also allow data roaming. Note the following differences and exceptions:
Access will often be slower than in the UK because not all networks abroad are 3G.
International data usage is always charged for. Bundle allowances do not apply (except 3 Like Home).
New data roaming networks are constantly being added to our list of network partners.
Not all roaming networks in a country offer data roaming. We only advertise data roaming in a country if our preferred network partner in that country offers data roaming.
You can opt out of international data access via My3. However, you would still have access from 3 Like Home networks.
In addition to the internet, MMS is also available on networks that allow data roaming. Pricing for messages is as usual there are no charges for the data you use by sending or receiving picture or video messages.
Note that not all data services will work when a customer is roaming on an international network.
services and products that will work
services and products that will not work
See this list* (http://ask3.three.co.uk/SRVS/Data/Hutch/KnowledgeBases/Ask3/document/web/dataroaming_table.htm) for countries and networks where you can roam, and how much it costs.
Note: Its not enough just to be in the country your mobile or USB Modem must be roaming on the correct network in that country to get data access.
And there it is, third line up from the bottom of the page, a link that actually takes you to a table of countries and charges, at long last. It has only taken four layered links to drill down into the data, and then only if you are prepared to read each page carefully to find the links and try them. But how many people would do that? Those in the know about Internet user's habits will tell you that generally people do not quest for information quite as thoroughly as I have here.
If one were cynical there could be a belief form that Three's marketeers know very well the general Internet user's surfing habits. Continuing along that theme one could believe that the essential tariff information is very carefully squirrelled away sufficient to be obscure, but providing enough evidence to any enquiry by OFCOM or OTELO. But that would be a very cynical viewpoint to take. :)