T-Mobile has launched a docking station that allows users to share their mobile broadband connection with other people in the vicinity.

The Mobile Broadband Share Dock, which was originally unveiled in October, hit shops this week. It allows several users to share a single mobile broadband connection.

The new device is exclusive to T-Mobile and is being included for free with a new 18-month contract on a £20 Mobile Broadband tariff.

This type of platform could make an ideal backup system for small businesses, which often rely on consumer level broadband connections that can sometimes be unstable.

The dock allows users to plug in a normal mobile broadband USB dongle, acting pretty much identically to a standard Wi-Fi router, and is password protected to help prevent unauthorised access from anyone who may be in range.

"Mobile broadband has experienced huge growth across the market," said Richard Warmsley, head of internet and entertainment at T-Mobile UK.

"As its popularity grows, we engage with our customers to continually improve and provide them with exactly the service they want.

"One of the key insights that came back from users was the desire to share the connection with friends and relatives. The Share Dock makes this a reality in a straight forward and simple way."

T-Mobile recommends that no more than three people connect at a time due to the limited bandwidth usually experienced through a mobile broadband connection.

There is also a 3GB fair use allowance, meaning that users will have to be aware of how much they are downloading.