Back-to-school guide: Prepaid mobile broadband

Heading back to school or university? A mobile broadband package may help you get off to a good start in 2010!

By Ross Catanzariti

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As costs fall, speeds increase and networks become more reliable, mobile broadband continues to surge in popularity. Whether checking your e-mail, Web browsing, uploading your latest photos to Facebook or submitting an assignment, mobile broadband can be a cost-effective solution. We've rounded up the best prepaid mobile broadband packages from all the major Australian telcos — Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3 and Virgin Mobile.

3 prepaid mobile broadband

Price: $79

3 offers a few different USB modems for prepaid wireless broadband, but the pick of the bunch right now has to be the E1553. For a limited time only, you can pick up this modem for just $79. It doesn't include any credit, but recharge options are reasonable: $15 (500MB), $29 (2GB) and $49 (4GB) recharges lasting 30 days and a $149 (12GB) recharge lasting a full 12 months. Best of all, the 3 E1553 is a "Mega 3G" modem, meaning it roams on Telstra's Next G network for better coverage and faster speeds.

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