Cheap Broadband Packages

Only a decade ago, the majority of home internet customers used dial up services through a slow 56Kbps connection, usually paying a price based on time of usage. The alternative to this was higher speed 'broadband' connections, using technology such as ISDN, ADSL or cable. However, since then, the price of home broadband services has reduced dramatically and 'broadband' is essentially the standard internet option for the vast majority of UK internet users.

Today there are broadly two different popular options available for the delivery of cheap broadband in the UK. The first, ADSL, is used by the bulk of broadband providers, as it uses BT's national telephone network to deliver internet services. These have been upgraded so as to allow for more efficient data transfer. In the past, internet through a phone line meant taking up all of the capacity of the line so that it could not be used for calls at the same time.

However, the current technology means internet and phone can be delivered at the same time, without the need for customers to arrange an upgrade or additional line. This type of broadband requires a BT phone line, which means that the quoted cost of internet services usually need to be added to the £11 a month standard BT phone line rental. However, some providers are now able to bill you directly for line rental - for example, Tiscali and Sky currently have this as an option in certain locations.

The other main type of broadband is cable broadband, which is delivered via a separate network to the ordinary telephone one. Currently, the only national provider of cable services is Virgin Media, who own the cable infrastructure as well as providing cable services, so line rental and broadband use are both paid to the same company. The company sometimes quotes the price of broadband separately from the standard line rental charge, so you should check the total cost when comparing this to ADSL services. There are other options for broadband available as well, such as mobile broadband, which is expected to become cost effective compared with fixed line services in the future.

Cable has traditionally been seen as the cheapest option for customers who are happy to take internet, TV and broadband services all from the same company, particularly when the main two options for TV services were Sky or cable. However, more companies are now able to offer phone packages than before (which, like broadband, is charged separately from line rental charges), and the broadband and pay TV markets have to a large degree converged.

For example, it is now possible to get broadband and phone packages from Sky, TV from BT and TV and phone from Tiscali, as well as their standard respective TV, phone and internet services. The cheapest broadband deals will usually be found when taking bundle packages from the same supplier.

Even if you currently have a 'low usage' option on TV or broadband, or a small channel package on pay TV, combining the services can mean you get a better package (e.g. faster internet or bigger download limit) for your money, so it is always worth comparing the total monthly cost of all your services between the different providers.