The Revolution of Mobile Broadband Rumbles On

Nearly half of the countries internet users are now accessing the web via mobile connections according the Office for National Statistics.

In 2010 only 31% of people surveyed were using their mobile devices to access the internet, that figure is now up to 45%.  The most significant increase affected 16 to 24-year-olds who use mobiles. 

The popularity of 3G broadband did not necessarily mean that more people were going online overall.  Most interestingly, the ONS survey also found a dramatic rise in the use of wifi hotspots - a seven-fold increase since 2011 - suggesting that the rise of 3G has done little to slow demand for free and paid-for wireless access.

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Ever wanted Everything Everywhere?

The company that runs Orange and T-Mobile now offer Everything Everywhere, as their customers can access both networks across the UK.

Under the new scheme Orange customers are able to make calls and send texts on the T-Mobile network whilst T-Mobile customers are able to do the same using the Orange network.

Customers who want to sign up and receive access to both networks can do so free of charge and with no change to their existing tariffs, calls or text charges. 

All this means that customers can use their mobiles in more areas than previously possible.  Two networks for the price of one means customers are starting to get exactly what they want; instant access to everything, everywhere. 

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A Milestone in Mobile Communications at 17,000ft

Nepalese telecoms firm Ncell, has launched the world’s highest internet service on Mount Everest.  Climbers can now surf the internet and make video calls through a 3G network says TeliaSonera, the Swedish broadband provider, which owns Ncell.

The company has installed eight 3G base stations along the route to Everest base camp.  It is thought that the wireless network will help the thousands of tourists who visit Mount Everest every year. To date, climbers and trekkers have had to rely on satellite phones and a voice-only mobile network.

At present less than one third of Nepal's population have access to telecommunication services.  TeliaSonera have also announced that they will be investing more than $100m (£63m) in the next year to improve mobile coverage in the country.

Cheaper calls for UK consumers

Telecom regulator Ofcom have today shaken the market up with new proposals that will make it cheaper for us to call mobiles.

It has proposed cutting the cost mobile phone firms can charge for connecting a call from another network from 4.3 pence per minute to 0.5p by 2015. Better still, mobile termination rates are set to be slashed and it is going to be easier to switch networks.

Ofcom research shows that 70% of customers want to keep their mobile number when they change providers. For this you need a PAC code, and up until now that has been known to take weeks. Under the new rules, mobile phone companies will have to issue PAC codes within a maximum two hour period.

There is more choice for consumers in the mobile market than ever before. The proposals will also mean that both landline and mobile operators have more flexibility in designing competitive call packages, promoting competition for the benefit of consumers.

Ofcom to cut Mobile Pricing

Mobile number portability and mobile termination rates have been argued over by the industry and Ofcom for many years. Last Summer Ofcom had suggested that they were going to reduce the time it takes to switch providers from 2days to as little as 2hours, but they only went as far as reducing the time period to one day. They also suggested that they would scrap mobile termination fees completely, and whilst that is not expected to be the case, consumers can expect massive reductions.

It is becoming more usual for mobile phone companies to ‘merge’ their networks in order to cut costs. For example, T-Mobile and Orange have recently begun moves to merge completely, which is a transaction that has recently been cleared by the EU Commission and should be completed in Spring.

Further good news in the mobile market is that the price of calling a mobile phone is due to drop further over the coming years. This week Ofcom are expected to propose new caps on the price that operators can charge each other and fixed line companies to connect calls on their networks.