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UK Broadband
information
The page contains
information and advice about Broadband in the UK
What
is Broadband?
A broadband connection (ADSL) provides high-speed
Internet access over a standard phone line. The advantage of a broadband
connection over the older dialup service, is that Broadband is considerably
faster, and is 'always-on', meaning that once you're logged on, your
PC is online until the PC is turned off again.
Broadband offers high-speed Internet access and allows telephone calls and a permanent Internet connection
to share a single phone line simultaneously.
What
do I need?
- Broadband coverage in your area. Each broadband provider allows you
to enter your phone number or postcode to check availability.
A basic test is done on your line, and when you sign up, a more
comprehensive test is carried out.
- A
Broadband (ADSL) modem. These cost from around £50
(PC
World) - although many providers, including BT Broadband bundle a free modem with
their service.
- Microfilters. When Broadband is enabled, the broadband signal is available
via any extension socket in your home as well as the main point. You'll need
to use a filter to cut out the Broadband "crackle". You need
a filter on every phone socket that has something plugged into
it - such as phone handsets, fax machines and your Sky box.
UK Broadband
Internet Providers
Below
is some information on the major suppliers of broadband in the UK:
|
Package
|
Available nationally
|
Download speed (up to)
|
Monthly payment2
|
Phone support call rates
|
No. free security features
|
Usage guide3
|
Internet calls available
|
| BT Total Broadband |
Option 1
|
|
8Mb
|
£15.99
|
Local
|
8
|
5Gb
|
|
|
Option 2
|
|
8Mb
|
£20.99
|
Local
|
11
|
8Gb
|
|
|
Option 3
|
|
8Mb
|
£24.99
|
Local
|
11
|
Fair usage policy4
|
|
| AOL |
Wireless
|
|
8Mb
|
£14.99
|
National
|
8
|
10Gb
|
|
|
Wireless+
|
|
8Mb
|
£19.99
|
National
|
8
|
40Gb
|
|
| Tiscali |
Option 1
|
|
8Mb
|
£12.99
|
National
|
1
|
5Gb
|
|
|
Option 2 |
|
8Mb
|
£14.99
|
National
|
1
|
Fair usage policy4
|
|
| Orange Broadband |
Starter
|
|
2Mb
|
£10
|
50ppm
|
4
|
6Gb
|
|
|
Select
|
5
|
8Mb
|
£20
|
National
|
4
|
Fair usage policy4
|
|
|
Max
|
5
|
8Mb
|
£24 |
National
|
4
|
Fair usage policy4
|
|
| Virgin Media |
M
|
|
2Mb
|
£18
|
Local
|
5
|
Fair usage policy4
|
|
|
L
|
|
4Mb
|
£25
|
Local
|
5
|
Fair usage policy4
|
|
|
XL
|
|
20Mb
|
£37
|
Local
|
5
|
Fair usage policy4
|
|
Notes: 1. Calls charged at 0845 rates (up to 4p per minute on the BT Network). Mobile and other network costs (non-BT telephony provider costs) may vary.
2.
Standard subscription price per month. 3. This is the total amount of data you can download (receiving emails, web pages and files) or upload (sending email and files) through your broadband connection each month. 4. A Fair Usage Policy applies to prevent over use of the service. 5. 8Mb cannot be offered UK wide although lower speeds should be possible.
|
BT
Total Broadband - BT offer three packages with speeds of up to 8 Meg. BT has the largest Broadband infrastructure in the UK, and they were voted top Broadband provider by BBC Watchdog viewers in March 2007.
Special offers: BT are offering a range of extras to encourage people to make the switch to Broadband. Currently they're offering:
- Free wireless broadband modem - Get a free BT Home Hub for wi-fi access in your home.
- Free BT Vision TV - Hard-disk recorder and access to on-demand content on your telly (more)
- Free wi-fi - Inclusive Wi-fi minutes from BT Openzone wifi hotspots
- Free phone calls - Free evening and weekend voice calls over Broadband
- Free storage - Digital Vault lets you back up your important files to a secure website
- Free security - Norton PC antivirus & firewall software on most packages
- Free Technical Support - Problem with your broadband? Call their 0800 support number free
BT offers the following Broadband options:
- Option 1 - £7.95 for the first three months for speeds up to 8 Meg.
5 Gig monthly transfer allowance. Five email addresses. (Special: Hub free on Option 1 till 16th May 08)
Option 2 - £13.99 for the first three months, for speeds up to 8 Meg. 8 Gig monthly transfer allowance. Includes virus checker, 5 email addresses and a free BT Home Hub, that supports wi-fi.
- Option 3 - £18.99 for the first three months, for speeds up to 8 Meg. Unlimited monthly transfer allowance. Includes virus checker, 11 email addresses and a free BT Home Hub wi-fi router.
Anywhere - £23.99 for the first three months, for speeds up to 8 Meg. Unlimited monthly transfer allowance. The top-of-the-range package. Everything included, plus a BT ToGo handset - this is a powerful smartphone that uses Wi-fi or the mobile phone network for surfing, emailing and PDA. More on BT ToGo.
More details at www.bt.com/btbroadband |
Sky Broadband |
In July 2006, Satellite TV firm Sky Digital entered the broadband marketplace, offering free broadband to subscribers of its satellite TV service. They're offering three packages:
- Free Broadband for Sky customers - Speeds up to 2Meg.
- Up to 8Meg Broadband - £5 a month
- Max Broadband - Up to 16Meg for £10 a month - no usage cap
Sky also offers a wireless broadband router, and a year's free McAfee Internet Security
For full details of Sky's offering, go to www.sky.com/skycom
|
|
Virgin Media formed in February 2007, seeing Virgin.net, Telewest and NTL cable joining into one company. They offer three broadband options, with no download restrictions:
- Size: M: Up to 2 Meg download speed, with no download limits - £4.50 a month with Virgin Phone
- Size: L: Up to 4 Meg download speed, with no download limits - £11.50 a month with Virgin Phone
- Size: XL: Up to 20 Meg download speed, with no monthly limit - £20 a month with Virgin Phone
Virgin Media's Broadband services include:
- Free Broadband modem
- £10 credit per product when ordered online
- Free Internet security
- No download limits (Acceptable Usage Policy applies)
- 15 Virgin email addresses
- Virgin Media also offers digital TV, home phone and mobile phone - signing up for a package can bring great savings
For more details, go to www.virginmedia.com. |
 |
Be Broadband is not the most well known name, but they have a great selling point - Speeds of up to 24 Meg. That's faster than BT and even Virgin Cable. The number of exchanges supporting Be Broadband is growing (slowly). Prices to join the Broadband revolution start from £14 a month for lightening fast Broadband.
Check if Be is available in your area at www.bethere.co.uk.
|
 |
In April 2006, TalkTalk launched "Free Broadband for life" for customers of their home phone tariffs. There are a number of different tariffs - best value seems to be Talk 2, which offers:
- Free broadband - speeds up to 8MB
- Inclusive and unlimited anytime local and national UK landline calls
- Free calls to other TalkTalk customers
- Earn 2 Nectar points per £1 spent on your TalkTalk bill
This package costs £5.89 a month, in addition to the line rental of £10.50 a month. Compared with BT's £26.49 a month (BT line rental and BT broadband).
Visit www.talktalk.co.uk for details and to check coverage.
|
|
Former favourite of ours, Tiscali offers two Broadband packages, to keep it simple:
- Option 1: Speeds of up to 8 Mbps. Monthly download limit of 5 Gigs. Free UK weekend calls. £4.49 for the first 3 months
- Option 2: Speeds of up to 8 Mbps. Unlimited monthly download - £8.49 for the first 3 months
All broadband tariffs include free connection and a free modem. See our Tiscali page or www.tiscali.co.uk for more information.
|
Installing
Broadband
If
you're looking to get Broadband, you'll need to be in an area of broadband
coverage, have signed up with a company to give you Broadband, and have
a Broadband modem.
Once you have signed up for your account, there's normally around a five day wait, while your provider makes the appropriate changes to your phone service at your local phone exchange. After that, you'll be switched on to Broadband. Here's a summary of what happens next:
If you don't have a Broadband modem, you'll hopefully have requested one - if you've gone with BT Broadband, you'll probably be sent a BT Home Hub (pictured). The modem will probably be posted or couriered to you.
Once you have your modem and it's your activation day, here's what you'll need to do to connected:
- Start up the PC,
and install the supplied software - it's the modem drivers for the Broadband
modem
- Plug the microfilter
into the phone socket (you also need microfilters for other handsets/equipment
in your house, as above)
- Plug the modem's
phone lead into the ADSL port of the filter
- Plug the modem's
USB lead into a spare USB port on the PC
- From the start
menu, start up the supplied software, and enter the account details
supplied by your broadband provider. You should just have a username
and password - unlike a dialup account, there's no phone number

Summary of setup
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question on Broadband in the UK? Check our Broadband FAQ

Broadband Links
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