3 Ireland reports 175k mobile broadband users

Irish 3G operator 3 Ireland says it has signed up more than 175,000 mobile broadband customers, making it the number one player in that segment and the second largest in the broadband market overall behind Eircom. 3 Ireland also claims to have experienced stronger broadband uptake than the former monopoly (on a month-by-month basis) in 2009. To mark the announcement, 3 Ireland unveiled its new Mobile Wi-Fi, or MiFi, wireless broadband service for mobile handsets. The MiFi device acts as a wireless modem and uses the cellco’s 3G network to create a mini Wi-Fi hotspot.