| Provider | Price per month | Speed | Download limit | Installation costs | Contract period | Annual cost* | n/a | 2.8Mbps | 1GB = £10 3GB = £20 7GB = £25 |
£49.99 usb modem (no landline required) | no contract | £49.99 + data |  |
n/a | 1.8Mbps | 3GB | £99.95 usb modem (no landline required) | no contract | £99.95 + data (£4 per day used) | |
£10 | 2.8Mbps | 1GB | free usb modem (no landline required) | 18 months | £120 | |
£10 | 2.8Mbps | 1GB | £49.99 usb modem (no landline required) | 12 months | £169.99 | |
£15 | 3.6Mbps | 3GB | free usb modem (no landline required) | 24 months | £180 | |
£15 | 2.8Mbps | 3GB | free usb modem (no landline required) | 18 months | £180 | |
£15 | 1.8Mbps | 3GB | free usb modem (no landline required) | 18 months | £180 | |
£15 | 1.8Mbps | 3GB | free usb modem (no landline required) | 24 months | £180 | |
£15 | 2.8Mbps | 3GB | £29.99 usb modem (no landline required) | 12 months | £209.99 | |
£15 | 7.2Mbps | 3GB | £39 usb modem stick (no landline required) | 24 months | £219 | |
£15 | 3.6Mbps | 3GB | £59 usb modem (no landline required) | 18 months | £239 | |
£20 | 1.8Mbps | 3GB | free usb modem (no landline required) | 18 months | £240 | |
£15 | 7.2Mbps | 3GB | £79 usb modem stick (no landline required) | 18 months | £259 | |
£15 | 3.6Mbps | 5GB | free usb modem stick (no landline required) | 24 months | £300 | |
£25 | 7.2Mbps | 5GB | free usb modem stick (no landline required) | 24 months | £300 | |
£25 | 2.8Mbps | 7GB | free usb modem (no landline required) | 12 months | £300 | |
£25 | 3.6Mbps | 5GB | £19 usb modem (no landline required) | 18 months | £319 | |
£25 | 7.2Mbps | 5GB | £39 usb modem stick (no landline required) | 18 months | £339 | |
£20 | 3.6Mbps | 3GB | £99 usb modem (no landline required) | 1 month | £339 | |
£20 | 1.8Mbps | 3GB | £99.99 usb modem (no landline required) | 1 month | £339.99 | |
£29 | 1.8Mbps | 3GB | free usb modem (no landline required) | 12 months | £348 | |
£25 | 3.6Mbps | 5GB | £59 usb modem (no landline required) | 12 months | £359 | |
£35 | 2.8Mbps | 7GB | free usb modem (no landline required) free Acer laptop! |
18 months | £420 | |
|---|
*Annual cost includes 12 months subscription, installation, hardware costs and current offers. All prices stated include VAT. This website is updated at least every week, when we review the latest offers on the market. We cannot guarantee that information stated on this site is correct as broadband providers frequently alter their deals. Click through to each provider using the links above to confirm their latest offer. Or click here to add UK Broadband Guide to your bookmarks enabling you to check out the latest deals another time.
How much will I download?
Some of the providers listed above limit the amount of data their users can download each month, by reviewing the table below you can guage how much data you are likely to download. Note if you are downloading TV shows or films off the internet then you should probably go for an unlimited package as just a one hour show can use up nearly one gigabyte (1GB) of bandwith.
Is mobile broadband slower than landline broadband?
Not necessarily. Whilst the speeds advertised may look slower than the 8MB that's become pretty standard in the home broadband market it should be reminded that the 8MB is actually very rarely achievable as depends how far you are from the exchange etc. Recent surveys have shown that in fact the average speed achieved by an 8MB home broadband line is more like 3-4MB! Thus mobile speeds are competitive, and are expected to improve soon as technology allows.
No more wires, no more hassles, no more waiting for a line to be installed. Just plug a USB Modem dongle into your computer and you're on the web. You can even swap your modem dongle between different computers. With Orange, O2, Vodafone, T-Mobile or 3 Mobile there is no need for a fixed line, it's your broadband - so just take it with you! Mobile broadband uses the mobile company's network so you can use your modem to get online wherever you are in the UK. These services are available on a 'Pay As You Go' no contract basis as well as 12, 18 and 24 month contract basis. Some plans come with a free modem that is even despatched with free next day delivery, so you can be online in your new flat tomorrow! The Carphone Warehouse also offer a comparison of broadband dongle deals, however unlike UK Broadband Guide they don't compare the whole of the market with an impartial review. So click here for the full list of UK mobile broadband deals.
I already have a landline, but don't want to sign a contract
Broadband is always-on, high speed Internet access. It enables you to
use the phone and the Internet at the same time - without the need for an
additional phone line. Broadband is a faster way of connecting your computer to
the Internet – 1Mbps is about 20 times the speed of normal 'dial-up' internet. It allows you
to view web pages more quickly, download large amounts of information more
easily (e.g. film trailers, music) and use services that require streaming
content (e.g. Internet radio). Broadband services are 'always-on', which means
there's no need to dial-up to the Internet or log off once you've finished
surfing. So your e-mails appear immediately without having to log on first. Many
broadband services are "unlimited" so you pay a flat fee each month with no
additional charges for the amount of time you spend online.
You need a personal computer or Apple Mac You need a broadband modem You need to be connected to the Internet e.g. by telephone or
cable You need an Internet service provider (ISP) Can I get broadband where I live?
By setting up a wireless network you benefit from the freedom of using your PC all around the home, and even the garden! With wireless networking the family can connect their PCs and peripheral devices, such as printers and scanners, together. It is simple to setup with no unsightly and restrictive wires. Your network is kept secure and safe from hackers with features built into most modern wireless routers.
In order to use your broadband wirelessly you will need a wireless router. This is a small box which links your broadband modem and your PC, and transmits the broadband signal using radio waves within a range designed to cover your property. Many broadband modems now come with a wireless router built in.
In order to pick up the signal your PC or laptop will also need to be wireless enabled. Many new laptops already come with 'wireless' built in, often referred to as 'Wi-Fi', '802.11b' or '802.11g'. Apple refer to their wireless technology as 'Airport'. A PC can easily be wireless enabled by buying a USB dongle or wireless network card. USB dongles are available for around a tenner from
Dabs. To review a wide selection of wireless routers at a good price, with free delivery and with impartial consumer reviews, try Amazon.
Or for a complete wireless broadband package BT offer wireless free on some of their packages, or you can upgrade from £25.
The benefits are clear - you'll have no more ugly wires trailing everywhere,
you can take your Internet with you around the house and you can even create
your own home network. Isn't it time you let wireless broadband set you
free?
enables you to call any landline or mobile phone in the world for the cost of a local call. And if you call another Skype account over the internet then it's free!! Broadband map - see if you live or work in a broadband enabled area. If you don't then not to worry as 3 Mobile offer broadband coverage via the UK mobile phone network.
Online activity
Estimated usage (per month)
Surfing the Internet - 2 hours each day
300-350Mb
Sending 30 digital photos via e-mail
25-50Mb
Receiving 30 digital photos via e-mail
25-50Mb
Downloading 5 music tracks a week
100-150Mb
Downloading 5 two-minute video clips a week
120-150Mb
Listening to online radio for two hours a week
20-30Mb
Sending 100 emails a week (no attachments)
20-30Mb
Receiving 100 emails a week (no attachments)
20-30Mb
TOTAL
710-960Mb
Do I need a landline or ISP to have broadband? Not with Mobile USB 'Dongle' broadband!
Mobile broadband gives you internet access, without wires, over the air. You do not need a telephone line or a subscription to an ISP (Tiscali/AOL etc), or to be in a Wi-Fi area to get online but instead by using a USB 'Dongle' Modem with your Laptop or PC/Mac you can have access to fast broadband, whether you are on the move or at home.
And if you don't want to sign a 12 month contract with a regular broadband provider then both Plusnet and AOL offer a service on just one month's notice.
How do I get broadband?
A personal computer (PC) or Mac should
give access to the whole of the Internet and the majority of web sites are
designed for access using PCs or Macs.
A modem is a device that enables
computers to transmit data across the Internet. Most broadband service
providers include a broadband modem or "router" in their initial set-up package.
Virtually every residence in the UK now has access to an internet enabled line via BT or Virgin Media (cable). Even if you don't but have mobile phone access where you are you can access the internet via a USB Dongle Modem with 3 Mobile.
An ISP is a company
that supplies you with access to the Internet. ISPs offer a variety of broadband
packages that can include services like e-mail and web space, as well as
high-speed Internet access. If you are in an ADSL-enabled exchange area (see
below) and have a BT phone line, you will have a wide choice of ISPs and may be
able to use a cable company too. However if you choose to connect via cable,
your choice of ISP may be limited. Compare the offerings of broadband ISPs using our at-a-glance comparison table. Mobile phone companies such as 3 Mobile are another option as they enable you to connect to the internet directly via USB Dongle Modems, therefore there's no wires or landline required. The table above compares these products.
ADSL/Broadband is currently available to around 99% of UK homes. You can
find information about the availability of Broadband services by using the postcode
checker on this link to BT’s broadband website. This will tell you whether
your phone line is in an enabled exchange area. If you live in an area where an
exchange has not been enabled you can express interest in receiving ADSL and
once BT has received sufficient demand for the service they will enable the
exchange.
To receive broadband via cable you need to live in a
location serviced by Virgin Media, which
covers around 50% of UK households. The majority of these cable networks have
been upgraded to broadband. Even if you don't live in a cable area, Virgin Media can still deliver their services down a BT phone line.
How do I get wireless broadband?
How do I make cheap or free calls using my computer?Vonage
works just like a traditional phone line except calls are made over a user’s existing broadband connection. Calls can be made from your home phone to any landline and mobile around the world. Users can even use their existing digital or touch tone telephone which plugs straight into your existing modem / router & Vonage adapter. Users choose from five call plans, from unlimited landline calls within the UK or unlimited landline calls to the UK plus a further 44 countries - all for a low, set monthly fee. (Unlimited calls to mobiles are available for some countries (such as USA). Vonage also offer competitive rates to countries outside of these plans.
It is also possible to keep your existing phone number when you move to Vonage. Further Vonage can be taken with you abroad and plugged into any broadband connection globally.
Broadband 4 Britain - the UK's Broadband pressure group and information centre.
Universitiesnet - the online student guide to university with student advice and guidance on a range of issues.
Poker Globe - compare online poker rooms at Poker Globe.
