Vodafone broadband explained
Vodafone history dates back to 1982 when Racal Strategic Radio Ltd joined forces with Milicom to form what we know today as Vodafone.
Vodafone has now become a global brand with over 300 million customers and operating in over 25 countries.
In the last few years, Vodafone has entered the broadband arena to offer superfast broadband at a competitive price.
Vodafone offers discounted deals for customers taking out a mobile phone contract with broadband with a minimum contract length of 18 months.
The main features of Vodafone broadband are:
- Contracts range from 18 months to 24 months
- A guaranteed speed - with a refund of up to 15% is given if the minimum broadband speeds is not achieved
- Free router which operates as a Wi-Fi Hub
- Mobile App to monitor and control internet usage
- Six Months free subscription to the award-winning internet security software F-Secure SAFE
How great is Vodafone’s broadband service?
Vodafone is a world leader in mobile communications and has set its intent to become a large player in the domestic broadband market and has already won several industry awards for its broadband services.
What do customers say about Vodafone broadband?
Vodafone has set a high standard for customer service for mobile communication, and its aim is to deliver consistent high levels of customer service for its broadband division. Freepricecompare.com’s internal research shows the overwhelming number of customers with Vodafone broadband rated the service as Good or Excellent.
How do you get in touch with Vodafone broadband’s customer service?
Vodafone broadband offers 24/7 live chat to customers and for those customers that would rather speak to an adviser, they can call 0333 3040 191 or 191 from a Vodafone mobile. Call centre opening times are 8am - 9pm 7 days a week.
How fast is Vodafone’s broadband speed?
Vodafone has decided not to offer broadband through copper lines focusing totally on fibre optic broadband, which means users will experience far higher speeds with a minimum speed guarantee or (some of) your money back.
Vodafone have simplified their offerings to two deals, both with unlimited usage;
Vodafone superfast 1
is Vodafone broadband’s standard offering, which gives an average broadband speed of 35 Mbps and download speeds of 10 Mbps. Vodafone are confident in the performance of their broadband and have a minimum speed guarantee of 25 Mbps. This suitable for small households using between 1-4 devices at the same time.
- Minimum guaranteed download speed of 25 Mbps or they will give you money back
- Minimum upload speed of 10 Mbps
- Average download speed of 35 Mbps
- Unlimited broadband data usage allowed
- 18 months minimum contract term
- F- Secure SAFE - free trial for 6 months
- Router – Vodafone broadband router provided as part of the contract
- Line rental for home phone and broadband included within the price
Vodafone Superfast 2
is the higher-level package suited to homes that require higher speeds. The average speed is 63 Mbps with an upload speed of 20Mbps. The minimum speed guarantee is 55Mbps or (some of) of your money back.
- Minimum guaranteed download speed of 55 Mbps or they will give you money back
- Minimum upload speed of 20 Mbps
- Average download speed of 63 Mbps
- Unlimited Vodafone broadband data allowance
- Minimum 18 months contract terms
- F-Secure safe – 6 months free trial
- Router – Vodafone broadband router provided as part of the contract
- Line rental for home phone and broadband included within the price
With both packages; Superfast 1 and Superfast 2, you will get 6 months free of the award-winning internet security software F-Secure SAFE.
A guide to what internet speed is right for you, consider what the internet will be used for and how many people will use the internet at once. Simple browsing requires less than 2mbps (download speed). For those that use Netflix, 3 Mbps is recommended, and 5 Mbps if you want Netflix HD content. For consumers looking to view 4K video content, the minimum download speed recommended is around 25 Mbps.
Vodofone is aware there is a demand for even higher speeds, and so is one of the few companies in the UK rolling out 1Gbps speed. At current the service is limited to only a few areas.
What other services you can get from Vodafone home broadband offering?
Sky Sports packages / channels |
No |
BT Sports / BT Sports app |
No |
TV channels |
No |
Fibre optic broadband service |
Yes |
ADSL broadband service |
No |
Mobile phone deals and packages |
Yes |
Call package options |
Yes |
International calls |
Yes - on selected countries |
Does Vodafone have its own broadband network?
Like most of the broadband providers in the UK, Vodafone broadband uses the Openreach fibre optic network which covers 95% of the UK.
The rollout of 1Gbp speed is in conjunction with City Fibre which is independent of Openreach and gathering pace.
How do you check if Vodafone is in your area?
You can use Free Price Compare’s deal checker to compare broadband deals that are available in your area or should you want to speak to a friendly adviser please call 0800 977 5741 .
What hardware do I get by joining Vodafone broadband?
Vodafone broadband send all their customers the latest Wi-Fi hub at no extra cost which is believed to be twice as fast as their previous version and is equipped with the signal strength to give internet coverage to the whole of your home.
For customers that wish to retain the use of their own router, they can do so as long its compatible with the Openreach network. To go online you’ll need to still use your Vodafone broadband username and password. Customers using a router not supplied by Vodafone will not get support for hardware issues.
What internet controls does Vodafone give to its customers?
The Vodafone app which is downloadable from the Apple App store or Android Play allows customers to control the internet from a mobile phone. It allows you to prohibit websites you feel are not suitable for your kids, and even the amount of time they spend on the internet. The app allows you to prioritise which device gets the most use of the bandwidth making it great for streaming or downloading large files without other devices impacting on the performance.
The app also allows you to set up a guest network, and monitor what devices are connected to the network and remove any devices that you feel shouldn’t be on the network.
What internet security software does Vodafone broadband give its customers?
Vodafone broadband have teamed up with F-Secure.com to offer all new customers the innovative award-winning security software, F-Secure SAFE. The software is free for 6 months with the option to extend the security for another 12 months for a discounted price.
F-Secure SAFE protects up to 5 devices from viruses, malware, ransomware, and websites that phish for personal details, F-Secure SAFE has the added feature of tracking devices, so in the event their stolen, F-Secure SAFE will help track the location of the device. If there is sensitive information, you’re able to use the software to delete data and files.
How to set up Vodafone broadband?
Vodafone broadband is really easy to set-up and does not normally need an engineer visit unless a new phone line is being put in.
Take your router out of the box, connect one end of the DSL cable directly to the router and the other directly to your phone socket. A microfilter has been supplied for houses with one phone socket (so your home phone can stay connected). Connect the power cable to the router and plug to the power socket and you’re ready to go.
What are the charges for installation of a new line?
Vodafone broadband will not charge for the installation of a new line nor do they have any additional set-up or installation costs.
How long does it take to go live with Vodafone broadband?
From the point of signing up on freepricecompare.com to your broadband being live with Vodafone is approximately 10 days but customers have the option to choose later alternative dates.
How do I switch to Vodafone broadband?
Freepricecompare.com has some of the latest and best deals from Vodafone broadband and the other leading providers. By checking the latest deals on freepricecompare.com you’ll be able to compare the best broadband deals from the market and for customers who would prefer to speak to an adviser, we have specialist broadband team who are available on 0800 977 4741 who are on hand to ask any question and process the application over the phone.
Vodafone broadband Wi-Fi hub at glance
|
Vodafone Wi-Fi hub |
|
|
Antennae |
7 x antennae with beamforming tech |
Ports |
4X Gigabit ethernet ports |
USB |
2 x USB port and 3G/4G support |
Guest network |
Yes |
What's in the box |
|
DSL cable |
|
WAN cable |
|
LAN cable |
|
Power adaptor and cable |
|
Instruction booklet |
- Name: Vodafone Broadband
- Legal name: Vodafone Group plc
- Operated in Regions: UK, Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania (owned network in 25 countries and partner networks in 47 countries).
- Plans offer: Broadband, Mobile
- IPv6 Support: No
- Ofcom Code of Practice: No
- Relocation Support: Yes
- ISPA Member: No
- Customer Service Number: 0333 3040 191
- Customer reviews: 9665 Trustpilot