Free mobile broadband 'only a matter of time'

Consumers could soon be surfing the web on the move for free, according to an industry expert.

Jessica McArdle from comparison site Top 10 Broadband claims that competition between mobile broadband providers has dramatically improved value for money and download speeds.

She said: "The public has an insatiable appetite for cheap mobile broadband, and this hunger has led to packages that are cheaper, faster and more inclusive than they were two years ago."

Ms McArdle added that it is inevitable that operators will offer consumers free mobile broadband modems in return for signing up to mobile phone packages.

In April, Vodafone cut the cost of all its mobile broadband packages in half. The network is now selling a 3GB service for £15, with a 5GB offering available for £25.

Rivals T-Mobile, 3, Orange and O2 have all also reduced prices in recent times as they strive to gain a share of an increasingly competitive market.