Something that many of us, in our ever more connected world, can often take fore granted is that we’re always going to be within range of a solid broadband connection. Unfortunately, it’s not until we encounter situations where that broadband connection, for one reason or another, flakes on us that we really start to consider the state of 3G coverage in Ireland.

3G coverage in Ireland isn't quite as good as probably many might expect

Given the fact that O2 has recently given its iPhone users the ability to use tethering, there’s been a bit of a resurgence in interest in mobile broadband and an awful lot of people asking the question, “… just how good will my connection be if I decide to pick up my laptop and dart out into the countryside and work to see about ‘working from home?’”

Tethering:

For those who’re using an iPhone with O2, you’re most likely already aware of the options you have with tethering. Essentially, if you’re on the older plan from O2 then you’ll have tethering as part of your standard data allowance. While your data allowing might not be capacious, it should be more than enough for browsing and getting general work done.

Tethering itself isn't even a very difficult thing to sort out

By contrast, if you’re using an Android device you’ll find that your tethering options are a little more complicated, but no less worthwhile. Since the Irish version of the Android Market doesn’t boast access to paid apps, you’re a little snookered, though not entirely. For the moment, we’ve been using PDAnet, which has to be installed on both the device itself (relatively straightforward) and on whatever machine you’re going to be connecting through (versions are available for both PC and Mac).

From there it’s all fairly straightforward, though if you’re using anything below Android 2.1 you’re not going to be able to tether wirelessly, so it becomes a question of trailing USB cable all over the show.

Android users should find PDAnet fairly easy to manage

If you’re using a BlackBerry then you can follow this relatively simple (but very detailed) step-by-step guide to get it installed as a tethered modem.

Similarly, if you’re using just about any Nokia S60 phone, you should check out this exceedingly quick and dirty guide to using it as a tethered modem. Admittedly, it works under the assumption that you’re in Australia, but just replace “outback” with “fields and bogs” and you should be doing alright.

Coverage by Network:

The fact is that, when it comes down to just how well you’re covered, the various different mobile carriers in Ireland do all boast their own coverage maps, and, while they’re very happy indeed to talk up their various percentages of the country covered, the coverage maps themselves can tell some fairly different stories. It’s all well and good to have a smartphone with a bundle of fancy features, it’s always nice to know if you can use them when you’re out and about.

The 'heat map' approach Vodafone takes is a fairly solid one indeed

Similarly, if you’re entirely dependent on your web connection for one reason or another (particularly for any among you who work from home), a solid 3G connection can be invaluable when it comes to picking up the slack. Indeed, in those crucial down-to-the-wire situations having a dependable 3G connection can very much make a difference, so it’s worth investigating in some detail just how solid a 3G connection you’ll be able to get from wherever you’ll be working.

In that respect, it’s fairly handy that Vodafone, Three and Meteor offer coverage maps with the ability to zoom in and check out each county in detail. This means you can fairly reliably chase down a mobile internet connection that’ll offer the reliability you need in the location you’ll need it (provided it’s available at all).

Meteor takes a similar heat map approach to Vodafone's

Indeed, if you give it a quick search you’ll find that O2 has some fairly solid coverage over the majority of the country. O2 was also the mobile provider whose in-depth map of its 3G coverage in Ireland was the hardest to find.

Simply searching for an O2 coverage map doesn’t really cut it, since the first result we found, isn’t divided, as the others are, into areas of 3G, EDGE, GPRS and so forth. Instead, O2’s coverage map simply divides into areas of “high coverage” and areas of “variable coverage.” This, unfortunately, doesn’t answer too many questions, and leaves any users who had been hoping for something a little more detailed out in the cold somewhat. If you persevere a little though, you’ll find a Google map of O2’s 3G

Go looking for an O2 coverage map in Ireland and this is what you'll likely find first

The option to check if mobile broadband is available in your area does appear on the page for mobile broadband, but things look a little different from the above image, which many will have found first then.

O2's map of 3G coverage is still an impressive one though

Similarly, 3’s map of its mobile broadband coverage is fairly optimistic, listing only areas where it’s available “Indoors” and “Out and about.” While we’re generally a fan of careful phrasing and nuance (yes, even when they obscure intended meaning and manage to communicate nothing), it’s not nearly so very helpful if, and when, you’re hoping to get some clear insight into just what you can expect from a connection in a specific area.

3's coverage maps for Ireland are... just a little confusing

Still, it does at least offer the ability to zoom in on a specific county and take a look at just what you can expect in an area… though of course it still only gives you an indication under its “Mobile Broadband” tab of whether you can expect it to be an “indoors” connection or an “out and about” one – whatever those terms might mean…

In the end, we took it to be the case that “Indoors” meant coverage good enough to use for some solid internetting. In which case 3 isn’t going too badly at all.

The Cost:

Of course, aside from the sometimes-flaky connections and the variable coverage maps from some of the network providers, the major preoccupation that many will have with 3G in Ireland, for general purpose broadband use, is that it’s going to set you back. When you get right down to it, these are likely not going to be primary connections for too many people, but serve very well indeed as a means of backup or on-the-go connectivity.

Sometimes, something as simple as offereing different dongle colours is enough

For the moment, you’re probably a little better letting yourself be swayed by coverage more so than by price, unless you’re living in Dublin, in which case it seems that there’s coverage enough for just about all of the major networks to ensure that it’s not something you’ll need to worry about too much. While there is a prepay option, the per month billing is what we’re more interested in here, with Vodafone offering a fairly health plan offering 10GB a month for €19.90.

Moreover, you get to choose from a few different colours when you’re picking a modem… it’s the little things that make it.

Similarly, O2 offers up to 15GB a month at €16.45, though its dependent on you signing an 18 month contract. If you’re not into that, you’ll be paying more for a smaller data allowance. A 12 month contract nets you a 7.5GB cap and costs €20.58 a month.

If you want to pick up a 30 day pass it’ll set you back €24.69 for 5GB… which isn’t nearly as attractive.

By contrast, Meteor’s offering is a little more forgiving for those looking to just get in for a month at a time. Anyone looking to use a 3G connection as an occasional affair might well find themselves a little better catered to by Meteor’s pay as you go offering, which will set you back €20 for a 30 day pass and top out at 7.5GB. Moreover, Meteor’s bill-pay option is €16.99 a month for a 15GB block, which isn’t so bad itself.

If you’re going the 3 route you’ll find yourself paying €25 a month for a 10GB cap. It’s also worth noting that 3 is the only company that has details on billing outside that bracket printed right alongside the rest of its charges, noting that, once you go outside of your bundle you’ll end up paying 49c a minute… Considering the volumes involved, going over your limit could prove a very expensive mistake indeed.

If you opt to go the pay-monthly route you can expect to pay €19.99 a month for 15GB of data, which isn’t too bad, considering the comparisons.

Closing:

So, it seems that, given the fact that there isn’t an awful lot of difference between the various different price plans; it makes more sense to check through coverage first and see what service is going to cater to the places you reckon you’re going to be most likely to suddenly and urgently need an internet connection.

In the event that you’re well served by multiple different providers then the prices might not be too different for your monthly charge, but data allowances could sway you, depending on just how much use you think you’ll need when you don’t have access to a good old-fashioned wireless connection.

Still, it’s nice to see that all of the major service providers in Ireland are providing such detailed coverage. While O2’s page was a little bit of a headache to find, it certainly manages to communicate fairly effectively just where you can expect to be using the company’s 3G coverage. Similarly, the simple enough option of just throwing in your address on 3’s page or to view by county with Vodafone or Meteor means that it’s not so very hard to find what you’re looking for if you give it a bit of a look.