Vodafone sweetens mobile broadband deals

Vodafone is hoping to ramp up mobile broadband uptake in the UK by waving the carrot of a £15 per month 3GB price plan in UK consumers' faces. But the 50 per cent price will only run for a limited 'promotional period'.

The mobile operator said it sees "great market potential for consumer mobile broadband" and is spinning its latest price plan tweaks as improved value for money for customers -- be it in monthly cost reductions or increased data-usage limits.

Business customers can expect more data for their pound -- Vodafone said the monthly fair usage on its Mobile Broadband Business and Mobile Broadband Business Travel packages will rise from 3GB to 5GB. Its Mobile Broadband Business package costs £25 per month. Customers will also be able to get free USB modems, provided they sign up to at least an 18-month contract.

Those customers happy to sign on the dotted line will also be offered a sweetener of three or six months 'free' line rental -- for 18-month and 24-month contracts respectively.

Business travellers using Vodafone Connect Abroad in Europe west of Russia, along with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the US can roam for £9.99 per 24-hour session.

Vodafone said its UK network has a top downlink speed of 7.2Mbps -- in London and major airports -- and a maximum of 1.44Mbps uplink. Elsewhere its network provides speeds up to 3.6Mbps, covering more than 80 per cent of the population.

On-the-go data lovers can expect better value for money from Big Red from 4 February when the new offerings go live.