3 Mobile Broadband logo

3 mobile broadband

3 overview

  • Wide range of packages including 1, 18 and 24 month pay monthly contracts with 1GB or 5GB data allowance
  • PAYG mobile broadband available in either standard PAYG format, where you buy data as you need it, or buy with 3 or 12 months' data included - ideal for gifts
  • Great range of laptop specs available 'free' with a mobile broadband dongle on 18 and 24 month contract
  • If you're an existing 3 Mobile customer, you get 25% off any 18 month mobile broadband package.

Best selling 3 mobile broadband deals

3 Broadband Genie Road Test results

3 Road test
Three Huawei E17069G dongle
Downloads
rating -2 stars2 stars
Uploads
rating -4 stars4 stars
Most stable
rating -3 stars3 stars
Coverage
rating -3 stars3 stars
Feelgood factor
rating -3 stars3 stars
Dongle software
rating -3 stars3 stars
Overall rating
rating -3 stars3 stars

May 2010

2010 Awards: Best Uploader runner-up

Alongside T-Mobile, 3's results showed the best improvement compared to last year's Road Trip. We can't help thinking things may have been even better if it wasn't for the dongle itself, Huawei's E1750. A very similar model to that used by Orange this year (the E1752), it hardly inspires confidence. The plastic feels incredibly cheap and flimsy, while the cap and SIM cover soon get wobbly and it didn't sit snugly in the USB port.

Top end speeds were nothing to write home about either. With an average over the Road Trip of just 0.5Mb and several download failures, it sat alongside Orange at the bottom of the pack. However, for uploading it managed an average of 0.6Mb - remarkably faster than its average download speed and a long way ahead of many of its rivals. 3 has a pretty big chunk of the market right now, so this may indicate that its network is suffering due to high traffic levels, rather than it being a poor network, which is hopefully a good sign if it can continue to increase capacity.

Unfortunately, there were other annoying quirks too. The software/hardware set-up didn't really seem in sync, with the software often having to be restarted to make it look for a signal again after it had been lost. And to add insult to injury, the 3 website is opened up 'every' time you have to do this and reconnect. while the desktop short cut didn't seem to work either. So while 3 is heading the right way, it still has work to do to catch its rivals when it comes to surfing on the move.

Overall analysis of the Mobile Broadband Genie Road Trip 2010

by Chris Marling May 2010

About 3

While 3 may have been late to the party as far as mobile network operators are concerned (being the fifth and final one to gain a licence so far), it has concentrated hard on trying to lead the pack in terms of 3G mobile broadband. UK residents have been bombarded with everything from free 3 mobile broadband dongles to aggressive pricing campaigns. bargain dongle and super-cheap deal does not a good mobile internet experience make: we receive many negative complaints about both speed and customer service.

Launched as a brand of the Hong Kong-based Hutchinson Whampoa corporation, 3 UK's mobile network arrived in 2003. The company launched its mobile broadband in August 2007, undercutting its rivals, while its pay as you go version followed in December of the same year. 3 became the first mobile broadband operator to launch 'free' laptop deals in July 2008 and it now offers mobile internet contracts from £10 per month.

In 2008, 3 signed an agreement with rival network T-Mobile to combine their 3G access networks: at the time the biggest agreement of its type (it has since been trumped by a similar deal between Vodafone and O2). It was set up to improve both quality and coverage across the network, which should impact on the quality of its mobile broadband service - both companies are committed to delivering "true" mobile internet.

3 customer reviews

Show all 384 3 Mobile Broadband reviews»

  • unhappy

    by Rod Spinks at 20:00 on 28 Jul 2010Report abuse

    I use my 3 dongle with my laptop.Surfing the web its very good,BUT as soon as I try to send emails it go's of line and I have to keep dialing up?
    Please advise
  • happy

    by Gino at 19:22 on 20 Jul 2010Report abuse

    Just had a text from 3 mobile to say how they have vastly improved the service they provide, does this mean they are getting better at telling lies? the service is getting worse not better, or perhaps they are sending their staff to english lessons so that they can actually know what people are saying when they complain about the rotten service they receive, the one good thing about the text is it makes me laugh just thinking about their claims
  • unhappy

    by Daniel Macedo da Silva at 23:37 on 10 Jul 2010 | registered | 1 postReport abuse

    Finally I had someone from the 3 custumer services awnser my calls. Their English wasn't the best one I ever heard but at least I could let them know if they want more money from me they must take me to the court.
    It's pathetic after 18 months contract they charge you money to be free from them.
    Please everyone be VERY carefull with the contracts.
  • neutral

    by matthew at 06:39 on 7 Jul 2010Report abuse

    I have dongles with o2 , Vodafone and three. The 3 network is the only one I can rely on to work and keep me connected whilst travelling round Derbyshire. At home I have no land line and use 3 mifi unit. again no network problems. the call centres do need sorting out though. We in Britain like to moan. We have very good mobile services compared to many places. We would be upset if these companies placed towers on every street and to get the coverage some people expect at 2300 frequency range that's what would be needed.

Add a review

Post a reply to this thread

 

 

Please describe your emotions in making this comment:


Powered by reCAPTCHA

Unless you are a verified user, comments will be moderated before they appear. Comments submitted entirely in capital letters, containing advertising or excessive swearing will be rejected; please try to be polite. The best comments are relevant, factual and balanced; think about all aspects of the package, such as speed, connection quality and customer service. We reserve the right to edit comments.