Virgin Media this week launched a mobile broadband service to compete with rivals O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone and 3. Anyone signing up for an 18 month mobile broadband contract with the company will receive a free USB modem.

The service will cost £15 per month with a 3GB download limit - Virgin says this is enough for 2,000 emails, 100 hours surfing the internet, 200 music tracks and 100 two minute videos. This pricing is equivalent to similar offerings from other mobile operators, leading some analysts to question why Virgin Media have bothered to launch the new service.

A spokesperson for consumer advice group Which? said the added competition is welcome, but Virgin would have had a greater impact on the market with a more competitive deal. However, Virgin Media chief executive, Neil Berkett, said the service will complement the company’s fixed line broadband over fibre optics, the fastest service in the UK. He added that customers can now access broadband at home and on the move. Customers who sign up for XL home broadband will receive 3 months free access to mobile broadband.

M2YD NEWS