Compare Broadband Deals

It can be easy to get confused by all of the terms and phrases used to talk about the internet. Two of the most commonly encountered words are broadband and WiFi, and it will certainly help you to make the best decisions for your household if you understand what these mean.

Broadband and WiFi are not the same thing. Broadband is the name of the type of internet connection that is used by many homes and businesses, and is delivered by an internet service provider, or ISP. This means that broadband is the route along which data, or information such as music, films, files and other content, travels between devices. It's called broadband because, unlike the early forms of internet delivery, which used a single telephone landline to carry this data, broadband uses many lines (or cables). It is literally a broader bandwidth of internet transmission and means that much more data can be transmitted faster.

WiFi, meanwhile, is the name of a type of technology which can be used to connect a device such as a computer, smartphone or tablet to broadband internet services. A WiFi connection is wireless, using radio frequencies to transmit data. This offers certain advantages over other technology that can be used to access the internet, such as a LAN cable linking the router and the device.

5G is the name given to the latest generation of wireless technology, following on from 4G and 3G technologies, which will likely already be familiar to many smartphone users. 5G represents an upgrade to the performance delivered by 4G technology, with greatly increased download speeds being one key feature. For example, whilst 4G wireless technology can deliver average download speeds of around 20 to 30 Mbps, 5G can provide speeds of around 130 to 240 Mbps, with scope for potentially even faster speeds in the future as the network rolls out.

As a result, 5G is being heralded as a great step forward for those who enjoy uninterrupted streaming of music or TV, online gamers, and even for vehicles which employ some self-driving features. This is because 5G offers much reduced levels of latency, or lag, between a command being sent and it being received.

5G can, therefore, also be a good alternative to a traditional home broadband connection. Whilst broadband internet is delivered to a premises by copper or fibre cabling, a 5G connection is delivered by the mobile telephone network, using local phone masts to provide access to the internet. This means that to use 5G at home and connect all of your devices with either LAN cables or WiFi technology, the router will need a SIM card installed.

It's important to make the right decision when it comes to selecting a broadband package, either if it's for your use at home or for your business. Making the wrong choice can lead to you paying far more than necessary in the long run.

A good place to start is to take a good look at how much your household (or workplace) realistically uses the internet. If you are a large family, with members who enjoy spending a lot of time streaming HD movies or online gaming (and both activities are often going on at the same time), then the chances are that you will want to pay more to get a fibre package that can deliver the fastest possible broadband speeds. Many packages can combine the cost of popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, or include services such as Sky TV. It will also be worth investigating packages that include unlimited data allowances.

However, if it's just you living at the property, and you simply use the internet at home to check your emails or do a bit of web browsing, then a much cheaper deal based on an ADSL connection will be more than sufficient to meet your needs. Of course, many of us fall somewhere in the middle of these two scenarios, so it can be helpful to look at the UK averages for broadband usage. For a typical household that enjoys some HD streaming, downloading files such as music, and online gaming, along with general internet browsing, a good rule of thumb is to look for a deal that offers speeds of at least 25 Mbps on average. If many devices are likely to be used to access broadband services at once, at work or at home, then opting for a package which can supply download speeds of 100 Mbps or higher is a wiser choice, to ensure that everyone can experience great performing, uninterrupted internet use.

In theory, it's perfectly possible to switch to a new broadband contract whenever you like. However, in practical terms, this can be a poor choice as doing so is likely to incur some expense. For example, if you are currently signed up to a broadband provider with a contract that stipulates a minimum term, you may well be charged an "exit fee", which can be rather high. It may be that the overall savings to be made will amply recoup this fee over time, so it's well worth taking the time to do the maths before making your decision.

It's also important to know that in the event that your broadband provider is failing to give you the level of service that they promised (such as a guaranteed broadband download speed), then they are not permitted to charge you an exit fee if you choose to end your contract early for this reason. Check your contract for full details of their minimum speed guarantee. However, for this loophole to be upheld by Ofcom, you must first contact your broadband provider and explain that the speed you are receiving is failing to match their promise, and to then give the broadband provider time to make this right.

In the future, it can be a wise move to look at the minimum contract period required by a broadband provider, before signing up with them. Contract lengths can vary, but typically last for 12, 18, or 24 months. Some ISPs also offer rolling short-term broadband plans, which, as they can be cancelled at short notice, offer greater flexibility but are more costly. The longer-length contracts are likely to be cheaper overall, but it's important to read the small print to understand exactly what you're agreeing to (including details such as those minimum guaranteed download speeds.) It's also important to note that whenever you sign up to a new broadband contract, you will have a 14 day "cooling off" period, during which you can cancel your agreement without having to pay a fee.

When you decide to switch to a new broadband provider, the first step should be to find out which providers are available for your address. There are plenty of free online tools which allow you to simply enter your postcode to find out whether your choice of new broadband provider is able to connect to your property. Next, select the best package for your needs as offered by the new broadband provider, with a consideration of your household's typical internet usage, as well as any other services or benefits that you would like to have included, such as subscriptions to streaming services, or mobile and landline telephone contracts.

Now it's time to get in touch with the new broadband provider to sign up to their services. They will then get in contact with your current broadband provider to arrange the switching process. It's likely that both your current and new broadband providers will want to speak to you in order to confirm that you want to make the switch. After this confirmation, you will be informed of your service transfer date, as well as any fees that may apply (including any early exit fee if you are making the switch before the end of your current contract's minimum term). You can also arrange the transfer date yourself, and let your old broadband provider know that you wish to terminate your contract with them on this date.

There shouldn't be any difficulty or disruption when your service switches from the old broadband provider to your new one. If you are also receiving services such as landline telephone, and plan to switch these to the new provider as well, there may be some downtime as the switch takes place, so it can be worth contacting your new provider for more details. If you want to keep your old telephone service, then the whole process should be quick, with little downtime, and automatically completed on the agreed date.

Many of the broadband service providers offer "bundle" offers, and these can certainly represent a good value deal for many households. Simply put, a bundle offer or deal sees you take up a contract with a broadband provider to receive not just your broadband internet access from them, but also other services, too, for one monthly subscription price. The type of services included in bundle offers include a telephone landline, TV services, or a combination of these, alongside your broadband. For example, you can take out a contract that includes both broadband and landline telephone services, one which includes broadband and TV, or one which provides broadband, landline telephone, and TV. The benefits of signing up to a bundle offer can include convenience (as you will only have one bill each month for these services) and incentives such as cashback, vouchers, or even devices such as tablets or laptops. A bundle deal can also offer significant savings over paying for each of these different services separately.

In these types of bundles, the landline telephone services will often include perks such as free call periods (such as at weekends or during the evening) and a free minute allowance each month. Some will offer the first 20 minutes of each call for free, then charge at a fixed rate for each minute thereafter, so, as with any contract, it's important to carefully read the small print so that you understand exactly what you're signing up to.

A bundle which includes TV, meanwhile, will offer a variety of benefits, such as free access to services such as Now TV, BT TV, or Sky TV. There may also be free access to special programming, such as children's TV or sports channels. Some deals will offer the capability to pause, rewind, or record live TV, or access on-demand programmes and movies. There may also be the possibility to access the TV services from mobile devices used in the home. Again, checking the contract terms and conditions is important in ensuring that you get the deal you want.

Increasingly, broadband providers offer bundles which also include free subscriptions to popular streaming services such as Netflix, mobile phone contracts, and game passes. If you would be paying for such subscriptions anyway, it can be a better value choice, but be sure to calculate this carefully before you sign up.

It's easy to find out which broadband providers will be available to you in your area. Simply use one of the many free postcode checkers available online, which can be found on the websites of all of the major ISPs. Using a tool such as this can also be useful to perform some checks before moving to a new address, allowing you to get a picture of the kind of choice of broadband service providers you could expect to find in your new location.

There are also free tools available online that can show you how fast your current broadband is, thereby allowing you to make a clear comparison when looking around for a new deal.

There are a great many factors which can affect the speed of the broadband connection you receive. Some reasons why a connection may be performing more slowly than expected can include the time of day you tend to go online (peak times can be slower due to increased internet data traffic), or it may be that there are several members of your household all trying to use broadband services at the same time. Make sure access to your internet is password protected, to ensure that your neighbours aren't making use of your service, too.

Other factors can include the location of your router and its distance from any connected devices. To speed up your broadband whilst using WiFi, try placing your router in a central location in your home, where it is not obstructed by anything such as walls, furniture, or even ornaments and photo frames. Having it kept at a height of above a metre will also improve WiFi connectivity. A cabled connection between your router and device will also speed up your internet speed.

Keep your router away from other electronic devices which may interfere with its performance, and update the browser on your computer or other device that you use to surf the web. If the situation is very bad, you can try using a broadband accelerator, or talk to your ISP about a possible solution to your issue.

Many broadband providers offer a way for their customers to manage their broadband services online, and this can certainly be a useful benefit. Being able to manage your broadband services online allows you to do so at a time which is most convenient to you, and, with many ISPs offering a mobile app as well as a portal on their website, you can easily take care of your account from any location. It's secure to do so, too, and there are regulations in place to protect your personal data.

As well as switching to a different package, or paying a bill, many ISPs also offer other useful management tools that can be accessed online or via an app. Sky, for example, provides a Sky Broadband Buddy app that allows you to control what content is available on the different devices across your household, which can be a valuable tool for filtering out films or other content that would be unsuitable for children, as well as allowing you to set limits for time spent online.

To find the best broadband provider for your needs, it helps to start out by assessing the kind of service that your household or workplace will need, including the download speed that will be required for your level of broadband usage. Check for download limits, too, particularly if you or a family member enjoys playing online games. If you only use the internet for checking emails and a little browsing online, then you won't need to pay for the fastest speeds with the highest download limits. Likewise, if your household streams HD games or TV, and you have many devices being used to access the internet at once, then a faster speed and download limit will be a good choice. It's also a good idea to check your current internet speed, using a free online tool, so you can compare any new deals against your current broadband performance level.

Next, you'll want to decide what kind of minimum contract length will be best for your needs The longer the minimum contract length, the better value the broadband deal is likely to be, but this won't be a good choice if you need a more flexible option. It's also worth doing the maths to see if taking up a bundle offer will save you money on other subscriptions you need, such as a landline telephone connection or TV services.

Using a comparison site is a great way to get a clear overview of the options out there, but you will also need to run your address through a postcode checker tool to be sure that the ISP you want is available in your location.

Full fibre broadband is the term used to describe a broadband connection which reaches right into your home or workplace, and which uses the latest fibre optic cabling. This is also known as FTTH (Fibre To The Home) or FTTP (Fibre To The Premises.) This is the fastest type of broadband connection available and is able to offer speeds and performance that surpasses FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet), in which the fibre optic cable connection ends at the nearest street cabinet, and the remainder of the broadband connection is delivered by the telephone copper wire network. If you are living at an address that is several hundred metres from your nearest street cabinet, the effect on the speed and performance of your broadband can be significant.

The key element in full-fibre broadband is the use of fibre optic cable for the entirety of the connection. This kind of cabling is constructed from incredibly thin glass and transmits internet data through the use of pulses of infra-red light. Fibre broadband replaces copper cables and improves on the older technology by providing a better system of data delivery over longer distances, with less interference or disruption to the movement of this information. The result is a broadband connection that can achieve Ultra Fast download speeds of up to 1Gb, which is an incredible leap from the Super Fast download speeds that start at around 30 Mbps.

Right now, the UK government is committed to rolling out full-fibre broadband to cover 85% of the country by 2025, which will greatly benefit many people living in more remote areas, and who currently experience very slow broadband speeds and performance.

The way to get the best performance from your broadband connection is to start out by looking at your router. Check that it is located at a high level (don't keep it down near the floor), in a place where it is not blocked by things such as ornaments or photo frames. Try to set it up in a central area of your home which is as open plan as possible- don't keep it shut away in a small room or cupboard, or behind a wall.

Plugging your router into your main landline telephone socket will also optimise the router's performance, but keep it away from other electrical devices which might create interference that will negatively affect your broadband quality. Even ordinary household devices such as dimmer light switches, stereos, baby monitors, and cordless telephones can have a significant impact. Microwave ovens are a particular hindrance to a great broadband experience, so try to avoid having this appliance used whilst you need to access the internet. And, when it comes to your laptop or computer, making sure that you are using the latest version of your internet browser and that all anti-virus updates are installed will speed up your broadband. Simply clearing your cache and shutting down any background apps will also provide a boost to your broadband's performance.

A wired connection rather than WiFi will also improve the performance of your broadband, so try to connect your devices to the router with an Ethernet cable where possible. This simple switch will make your broadband connection perform rapidly, as it not only reduces the threat of interference from other devices, but also takes away the time needed to spend encrypting data before it is transmitted via a wireless connection. If you can't avoid having to rely on a wireless connection, simply taking the time to switch off the WiFi on any devices that aren't currently in use will greatly improve the broadband speed for those which remain connected.

It's very easy to set up a new broadband internet connection, and there are even a couple of choices available. Your ISP will usually have a specific department dedicated to setting customers up with their new broadband connection, which may involve having an engineer come to your home to create a broadband access line. There will usually be a fee for this installation process, which can vary according to the broadband supplier and the deal you have signed up to.

It may even be possible to set up your internet connection yourself, although doing so will depend on your having a home or workplace with the correct wiring in place, as well as choosing an ISP which offers a self-installation option. Your ISP should send you a self-installation kit to use, and this approach can be a great way to save a bit of extra cash. If there is already a functioning broadband access point, you can simply send off for a new router, then plug it in and get started straight away.

You'll no doubt be very happy to know that the broadband switching process can be very simple indeed, but when it comes to the time that the process will take overall, you are likely looking at a period of around two weeks. However, you won't be without access to the internet during this time, as your old and new broadband providers will agree a date on which your services will be transferred across. There may be a few minutes of downtime on this date, as the switch is carried out automatically, but you can expect minimum disruption. This is certainly good news if you need continuous access to the internet in order to work or study from home.

However, it's important to note that if you need an engineer to visit and install your broadband connection line, then you may have to wait over a week longer. This may well be the case if your new deal will be upgrading your broadband connection from FTTC to full fibre. Different ISPs have different typical waiting times, and you can compare these online if this is an issue for you. Currently, PlusNet is ranked as one of the slowest to connect their customers, giving them an extra wait of around ten days.

Ofcom is the regulatory body which oversees many different aspects of communication services here in the UK, including TV and radio, wireless electronic devices (such as cordless telephones, walkie-talkies, and even smart doorbells), and it even oversees the performance of the Royal Mail. And, of course, it deals with the broadband market, where it works to ensure that consumers are not being overcharged for services or being subjected to bad practices. Ofcom regulates the price of broadband services, and can implement charging controls where necessary, to ensure that customers aren't being ripped off. It also promotes competition between different ISPs to ensure that customers have a good range of options for their broadband services, rather than allowing a single company to gain an unfair monopoly over the British broadband market.

Ofcom is given its mandate by the UK Government, but is an independent body which is funded by money it receives from companies it regulates. UK customers (both domestic and business) can get in touch via Ofcom's website or by telephone if they have any concerns or complaints. If you do have a complaint about your broadband service, Ofcom itself cannot step in to resolve the issue, but will instead direct you to its Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme, or ADR scheme. These schemes are independent bodies and are free to use.

Ofcom works to make sure that people are able to access broadband services, and, to this end, it is also overseeing the rollout of full fibre broadband across the UK. You can visit its website to find out the latest news about this vital network upgrade.