Three Mobile (Orange, Hutchinson) offers pre-paid mobile broadband in Australia.

Go to the Three Mobile homepage i.e. http://www.three.com.au - and click the link "Mobile Broadband"

The mobile broadband plans from 3 Mobile are probably the cheapest and best value in Australia, however, the coverage of the 3 network is mostly limited to larger cities. In some areas, such as Sydney, 3 is oversubscribed and speeds can be very slow. In contrast, the plans from Telstra are the most expensive but Telstra's network offers the broadest coverage in Australia.

Another Australian telco that offers mobile broadband is Optus (and through its re-branded Virgin Mobile). Optus is a good "middle of the road" option for those who cannot afford Telstra and live in an area not serviced well by 3.

If your mobile broadband needs are limited to the Australian capital cities, then 3 Mobile is the best option. You will need to purchase a USB modem for $129 or if you already have a HSDPA modem (unlocked), you can purchase a prepaid SIM starter kit for $9.95. Then just select one of the recharge options below. All prices in $AUD. (Note: VPN connections are not supported).

Starter kits (with modem) can be purchased at 3 stores, located in most major shopping malls. Prepaid SIM-only starter kits can be purchased from a variety of retailers, including Dick Smith Electronics, as can reload cards. Starter-kits and reload vouchers can also be purchased online from 3.