Blogs - Broadband

Wednesday, September 1st 2010

BT's broadband propositions are hugely popular, with 15 million of us now signed up to get our web access via its high-speed network.

Now that the telecoms giant has achieved this significant milestone - which means it has managed to attract an average of 5,000 customers every day for the past eight years - we thought it would be the perfect time to cast an expert eye over some of the best value broadband offers BT currently has available.

Although you'll need to be signed up to a home phone with BT too, it's possible to get the company's Broadband Option 1 package for just £15.99 per month on a one-year agreement, with no upfront connection fee.

Monday, August 30th 2010

BT Vision, Sky and Virgin Media have all made recent announcements regarding their TV-on-demand services - an area which is set to become a major battleground over the coming months.

Towards the end of last month, the beta launch of Virgin Media Player was announced - if you're one of the provider's XL TV and broadband subscribers, you can already sample some of the hundreds of hours of programming that are available.

Meanwhile, Sky unveiled an exclusive tie-up with US broadcasting giant HBO, which gives it the right to add classic series such as The Sopranos and Six Feet Under to its on-demand platforms.

Friday, August 27th 2010

If you're looking to switch your home broadband provider, or if you've simply never taken out one of these deals on the grounds of cost, then now is the time for you to take action.

The latest study from Analysys Mason showed that prices are dropping across Europe and the US, with the average bundle of fixed-line broadband, home phone and digital TV services now costing just €40.70 (£33.36) a month.

Not only are prices coming down, but we can assure you that the amount you can get for your money is on the rise - if you're prepared to pay around £30 per month, you'll get plenty of bang for your buck.

One of the best current offers is the Virgin Media Triple for £23.

Monday, August 23rd 2010

Ofcom's latest figures have shown that 71 per cent of households in the UK have broadband. While that's a fairly healthy figure, it still means more than a quarter of people are unable to browse the web at high speeds.

We know there are still plenty of parts of the country where it's impossible to get a connection. However, some of the 29 per cent without broadband will be able to access it, but are being put off by factors such as perceived high costs.

Anyone in this situation should be assured that there has never been a better time to sign up for a cheap broadband deal.

Friday, August 20th 2010

Brits are increasingly waking up to the great savings that can be achieved by taking out bundles of home phone, broadband and digital TV.

We've been promoting the benefits of bundles from the likes of Virgin Media, Sky and BT for ages, and Ofcom's figures suggest our campaign is paying off, with half of all homes in the UK now getting two or more communications services from the same provider.

It's certainly not hard to see why these packages have become so popular, given the range of great value offers out there from some of the above companies.

Wednesday, August 18th 2010

Media pundits and analysts have been pretty harsh on BT for the amount of customers it has managed to attract to its newly-launched sports packages.

Experts have estimated that around 60,000 people are currently subscribed to one of the Sky Sports offers on BT Vision, arguing that this is a disappointing return considering the amount of money the telecoms giant has spent on advertising.

Whether or not BT will be secretly unhappy with the figures, as far as we're concerned the company has still managed to put together some great value offers for avid sports fans.

For just £41.

Friday, August 13th 2010

It may have come to your attention that Premier League football returns to our screens this weekend.

Over the past couple of weeks, we've reported a number of analysts' opinions on whether Sky, Virgin Media or BT Vision is offering the best digital TV packages to cover all your essential sports viewing needs and now it's time to have our say.

Without wishing to sit on the fence, it's fair to argue that each of these bundle providers has put together some fantastic value offers - and if it's a bargain basement price that you're after, then BT Vision has the edge.

The company's Sky Sports Pack comes with both Sky Sports 1 and 2 for a price of £29.

Tuesday, August 10th 2010

Fibre optic cable broadband is becoming increasingly prevalent across the country, thanks to the hard work of BT and Virgin Media.

More and more parts of the UK are getting access to these high-speed broadband connections every day, with BT claiming that as much as 66 per cent of the population could be hooked up by 2015.

Unlike normal broadband networks, which rely on copper telephone cables to send data, fibre optic broadband makes use of thin strands of glass that can transfer information at super-fast speeds.

If you're one of the lucky people who can get access to fibre optic broadband, it makes sense for you to take advantage of it - particularly given that it doesn't have to be an expensive luxury.

Friday, August 6th 2010

Now that Be Broadband has promised to shake up the home phone market with a series of offers designed to undercut BT, we thought we'd have a look at the best landline packages that are currently available.

For some, a landline is just a way to get access to broadband. But if you're one of the people who takes advantage of the free calls offered by your home phone, then it's important to make sure you're on the most cost-effective deal possible.

Even if you don't get much use from it, you might still find you can save some money on your basic line rental.

Thursday, August 5th 2010

Sky's latest financial results have shown that more people than ever are now taking advantage of the great savings that can be achieved with one of its broadband, TV and home phone packages.

An impressive one in five Sky customers now signs up to a bundle deal comprising each of these three services. With that in mind, we thought we'd take a look at some of the great offers you can get when you take out your digital TV, internet and landline with the same provider.

If you're considering a move into the world of high-definition (HD) TV viewing and you're keen to save as much money as possible, it's hard to find anything to fault with the Sky+HD Starter.

Wednesday, August 4th 2010

Now that Virgin Media has been officially recognised by Ofcom as the fastest high-speed broadband provider in the country, it seems like an appropriate time to cast our expert eye over some of the company's best offers.

In their latest round of broadband download tests, the team over at the regulator found that Virgin Media's up to 10Mb/s package is around twice as fast as rival DSL offerings with the same headline speed.

If you're convinced that you just want fibre optic cable broadband, you can sign up for this deal as a standalone product for a standard price of £20 per month, with a one-off installation fee of £35.

Friday, July 30th 2010

The battle to provide the best TV-on-demand service is set to rage over the coming months and Virgin Media has just laid down an early marker with the launch of the beta version of Virgin Media Player.

If you're one of the lucky customers to have an XL cable TV package and any broadband connection with the bundle provider, you'll be able to get a glimpse of the hundreds of hours of content Virgin Media has made available for the trial.

Those who sign up will be able to watch some of their favourite programmes online - or even via their mobile phone - for up to an hour a day, without being charged anything for the privilege.

Thursday, July 29th 2010

Now that Sky's rights to broadcast the forthcoming Ashes series on its digital TV channels have been extended, legions of cricket fans will be clamouring to sign up for the best sports packages available.

England head down under to take on their bitter rivals Australia this winter, with the first Test getting underway in Brisbane on November 25th 2010. While the Barmy Army are planning to take plenty of fans with them, the only way for most people to watch the contest will be via a digital TV subscription, so we've taken a look at the best bundles available for those who can't bear to miss a minute of the action.

Sky is the obvious choice for the sports mad and it's surprising how little a Sky Sports subscription can cost.

Tuesday, July 13th 2010

When it comes to subscribing to broadband, most people now recognise the cost benefits of combining internet services with home phone and landline deals. Most major providers offer such packages and now Be Broadband is also joining the party.

Expected to launch in September, the development of the landline service has come about after members revealed they would be interested in such a deal.

In an official blog posting, managing director Tom Williams hinted that Be is hoping to rival at least one company when it comes to the service.

Monday, July 12th 2010

For most people in the UK, broadband services and the internet are concepts that are taken for granted in both their personal and working lives. Because of that, it seems strange to think that around ten million people have never used either.

However, that is the figure being quoted by Martha Lane Fox, the government's digital champion, as she prepares to deliver her manifesto on getting everyone in the UK online by 2012 to the coalition.

The aim behind the plans is simple - many people are missing out on broadband access and the benefits that it can offer, such as cheaper utility deals and improved education for youngsters.