Broadband on the move - Australian 3G data card round-up

By David Flynn on 15 December 2005

Don't forget the alt TAG After years of fiddling with mobile phone hook-ups just to dawdle along at GSM speeds, hunting down hotspots or just making do without Net access on the road, the arrival of 3G is like manna from heaven for the mobile digerati.

3G data cards slide into a notebook's PC Card slot and hitch a ride on the nascent third-gen phone networks. 3G data speeds peak at 384kbps - slightly more than entry-level ADSL but a serious leg-on on the 50kbps ceiling of the GSM-based GPRS channels, which in the real world tend to lag behind even a dial-up modem.

Of course, the coverage of a 3G card is only as good as the underlying network, which can make a difference depending on your travel habits. The limited roll-out of 3G means it's certainly not a case of being 'Internet anywhere': that honour goes to Telstra's BigPond Wireless Broadband, which piggybacks onto Telstra's advanced EV-DO service. It's also why most data cards can fall back to their parents' more extensive GSM networks when 3G isn't available.

(The exceptions are Telstra's card, which drops back onto CDMA; and 3's NetConnect card, which connects to Telstra's GSM service because 3 has no GSM network of its own. This can in fact happen inside 3G coverage areas where the Telstra signal is stronger than the 3G one. This roaming incurs an AU$1.65/MB tariff, although the NetConnect card's software settings can be adjusted to prevent GSM handover).

Telstra, 3, Vodafone and Optus aren't the only ways to get into the broadband on-the-move game. Wireless ISPs iBurst and Unwired also have PC Cards and run on dedicated data network at speeds closer the true 'broadband' rate of to 1Mbps, but with obviously limited coverage compared to the phone networks - for example, Unwired's PC card service works best only in selected locations in Sydney and isn't really meant for use 'on the move'. Unwired has, however, announced plans to start selling a long-awaited PCMCIA card version of its broadband modem for laptops on Boxing Day (December 26, 2005).


Vodafone Mobile Connect
Vodafone Mobile Connect
Read review
Aggressive pricing, a slice of speed-boosting tech and a tempting 'unlimited' downloads plan puts Vodafone in pole position in the race for 3G datacard customers.

Optus Wireless Connect
Optus Wireless Connect
Read review
Optus' combo PC Card ticks every box on the wireless menu, including 3G, GPRS and Wi-Fi, to serve road warriors with a smorgasbord of connectivity.

Telstra BigPond Wireless Broadband
Telstra BigPond Wireless Broadband
Read review
As long as you're a metropolitan broadband user, Telstra BigPond Wireless Broadband delivers well, but it can't be said to be an inexpensive broadband option.

3 Mobile Internet NetConnect Card
3 Mobile Internet NetConnect Card
Read review
The 3 Mobile Internet NetConnect Card is a reliable wireless broadband option, but the usual "subject to coverage area" caveats apply.

Topics: broadband, mobile, wireless, data, access, card, 3g, telstra, gsm, wireless broadband

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Comments (7)

  • ShankAlenka commented on 03/09/2008 01:22 Report abuse

    I also bought mine from http://www.pressdigital.com.au. And here it is...

    http://www.pressdigital.com.au/communications-3ggprs-wifi-security/sierra-wireless-aircard-hsdpa-card-special-p-4853.html

    It was a awesome experience and the service provided by Press Digital even after i bought the item is very good. Really impressed about the way they handle customers about their products.

  • cajohnson commented on 27/08/2008 01:43 Report abuse

    I love my 3G card (Sierra Wireless Aircard 875). Much better coverage than wifi and doesn't overwork my battery. You can get it at http://www.pressdigital.com.au/communications-3ggprs-wifi-security/sierra-wireless-aircard-hsdpa-card-special-p-4853.html

  • praveen82c commented on 25/12/2007 06:21 Report abuse

    is it available in tamil nadu

  • jazeboy commented on 04/09/2007 11:29 Report abuse

    What if you have one of the many new laptops without a PCMCIA slot?? I've seen simple USB types advertised. Any advice?

  • Shane Lawson commented on 13/06/2007 12:34 Report abuse

    There is a mob called Wired Sky who are able to rent out all different 3G data cards on a short term basis. I needed a connection for a business trip in Perth and they were able to sort me out with a Next G service just for a week. It worked Brilliantly. Great idea if you only need access temporarily or if you want to try out a wireless network before deciding which one to go for. In my opinion Telstra Next G is definitely the go, the speeds were impressive, even faster than my old iBurst, with much better coverage too. Worth paying a little extra if you do business beyond the capital cities.

  • Shane Lawson commented on 13/06/2007 12:31 Report abuse

    There is a mob called Wired Sky who are able to rent out all different 3G data cards on a short term basis. I needed a connection for a business trip in Perth and they were able to sort me out with a Next G service just for a week. It worked Brilliantly. Great idea if you only need access temporarily or if you want to try out a wireless network before deciding which one to go for. In my opinion Telstra Next G is definitely the go, the speeds were impressive, even faster than my old iBurst, with much better coverage too. Worth paying a little extra if you do business beyond the capital cities.

  • syed khokon commented on 17/05/2007 16:22 Report abuse

    I need to information about broadband wirless internet service individualy use my laptop.
    please send me details let me know.

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