Choosing a Broadband ISP
(Internet Service Provider)

Many of my clients ask me about the virtues of broadband. Personally, I spend a lot of time online and I don't think I could now cope without broadband. Anyway I thought it might be useful to draw together some of the things to think about as well as some of the possibilities in the UK. (I hope to add information about other anglophone countries at a later date, so if you have any suggestions, please let em know.)

The first thing to think about is why you might want a broadband connection if you don't already have one at home. Apart from "because everyone else has got broadband and I don't want to be left out", there are 2 main reasons: speed and not clogging up your phone line.

Speed

Even the slowest broadband connection (512 mbps) is about 10 times faster than a dial-up connection. So surfing with broadband will save wear and tear on your finger-nails because you won't be drumming your fingers any more!

What you need to compare, as well as the price, is:

• the speed of the connection, expressed in kilobytes per second (kbps) or megabytes (mbps) per second; even gigabytes per second from some providers (gbps);
• any limits to the amount of information you will want to download in any month (email doesn't use much, music will use quite a bit and video will use up a lot);
• cost of installation;
• price of a modem;
• the inclusion of a router if your household has more than one computer or if you want to use the internet connection wirelessly for example with a laptop
• whether you need a particular phone line (e.g. BT in the UK) or a cable connection. If you are going down the phone line route (ADSL) you will need to check whether your exchange has been brought up to the required standard. A preliminary check is done by using your telephone number and/or postcode. If you are going down the cable route (perhaps combining broadband with cable TV) then there is often only one provider in your area. Again you will be able to check availability by typing in your postcode.

Further down this article are details for some of the providers in the UK. Just so that you know that with some of these, if you follow these links and eventually sign up via the website that you get to, then I may receive a small referral fee.

Some Broadband ISPs in the UK

I've done a bit of a trawl through Internet to find some of the providers of broadband services in the UK, so that you can compare offers. Please bear in mind that this is quite a competitive market so details can change. I'm going to keep a page on the website with information on broadband services and attempt to keep that up to date. So if you aren't ready to make the move at the moment, you'll be able to make comparisons later at:
www.withoutamouse.info/broadband.

Up to 8 Mbps, 40GB monthly usage allowance, free modem, free with the Talk3 international telephone plan. The website claims "FREE Broadband when you join our Talk3 cal plan. 30 day trial: we're so confident that you'll love our broadband that we're giving you a 30 day trial. Once your broadband has gone live, if you're not happy, simply cancel the service within 30 days".

UK Online

1Mb unlimited Broadband package is available from 9.99 per month and their 2Mb Broadband package is available from 14.99 per month;

they have an 8Mb unlimited Broadband from 24.99;

They also have a staggering 22Mb connection in some areas for 29.99;

UK Online charge a connection fee to all of its broadband services.

BT Broadband (now branded BT Total Broadband) - via BT phone line

Free Evening and Weekend UK BT Broadband Talk calls and Free video calls (with conditions), 250 free BT Openzone minutes a month for the duration of the minimum term, download speeds of up to 8Mb, a suite of security software.

Option 1 - Fast and secure surfing, plus free calls, 8.95 a month for 6 months then 17.99 a month, Free BT 220v Router or BT Home Hub for 30 (online), 2GB usage guideline, 18 month contract. Until May 16th, Option 1 will come complete with a free wireless home hub.

Option 2 - Family surfing and free calls, 13.99 for 3 months then 22.99, Free BT Home Hub, 6GB usage allowance, 12 month contract.

Option 3 - Power surfing and free calls, 18.99 for 3 month then 26.99, Free BT Home Hub (value 90) and handset (value 80), 40GB usage allowance, 12 month contract, Wi-Fi Acccess minutes (value 10 a month) .

If you sign up for an 18 month contract, you get the introductory price for 6 months instead of 3 months.

If you already have Broadband, take a look at their Switcher page.

to compare all of the BT Broadband options

512k, unlimited downloads; 13.99 a month;

up to 8 MB, unlimited downloads; 14.99 a month;

free modem.

Toucan also have plans with telephone calls.

Virgin Media

This is the company formed of Virgin, ntl and Telewest. They now offer all sort of deals with TV, phone, mobile phones. They have 3 broadband offers, that they call M (Medium), L (Large) and XL (Extra Large). Depending on where you live you will use either cable or a phone line.

No download limits; free modem is included. Virgin have 3 packages:

M - up to 2Mb, no download limits - 14.99 a month for first 12 months, then 18.00 a month thereafter.

L - up to 4Mb, no download limits - 25.00 a month.

XL - up to 10Mb, no download limits - 35.00 a month.

Tesco Broadband - via BT phone line

FREE connection; 15 email addresses; Access to newsgroups; FREE broadband modem; 50MB of webspace to build a website;

512k connection speed, 1GB download limit, 13.97 ("Tesco Value")

512k connection speed, no download limit, 14.97 if you also sign up for Tesco's phone package or &17.97 if you don't;

1 MB connection speed, 3Gb download limit, 17.97 per month;

1Mb connection, no download limit, 19.97 per month.

V21.co.uk via BT phone line

512k connection speed, no download limit, 14.99 per month;

1 MB connection speed, no download limit, 17.99 per month;

2MB connection speed, no download limit, 27.99 per month;

NOW UP TO 8MB connection speed, 2 GB download limit, 9.98 per month;

extra charge for broadband modem;

some options for your phone calls too.

 Pipex

Pipex packages can include free home phone calls, free months when you switch, free modem and connection, free firewall and anti-virus;

They offer three packages for residential users; Mini, Midi and Max.

PipexMini - up to 8Mb Broadband for just 6.50 per month; 4GB usage allowance; Unlimited local and national calls, all day every day just 12.50 per month; Pipex Mini+Anytime Total 19.00 per month;

PipexMidi - up to 8Mb Broadband for just 9.99 per month; 15GB usage allowance; unlimited local and national calls, all day every day just 12.50 per month; Pipex Mini+Anytime Total 22.49 per month.

PipexMax - up to 8Mb Broadband for just 14.99 per month; unlimited month usage allowance; unlimited local and national calls, all day every day just 12.50 per month; Pipex Mini+Anytime Total 27.49 per month.

Beaming Broadband - via BT phone line

2Mb connection, no download limit, 24.95 per month;

2MB connection, 2Gb download limit, 19.95 per month;

Beaming also have combined packages with phone offers.

Demon

Free set up and modem, speeds up to 8Mbps;

Demon Home 8000 - 19.99 a month inc VAT, Online Purchase Only;

Demon HomeOffice 8000 - 24.99 a month inc VAT;

Demon VOIP

Demon Voice Over Broadband UK - 2.99 per month (+VAT), + standard call charges - 14.99 (+VAT) setup

Demon Voice over Broadband UK Unlimited - 9.99 per month (+VAT); FREE setup, and 30-day FREE trial + Standard call charges.

UK & International Unlimited - 16.99 per month (+VAT); FREE setup, and 30-day FREE trial + Standard call charges.

HomeChoice

3 high speed internet connections - up to 8Mb;

with digital TV and Phone packages;

only available in Stevenage and the South East area of the UK.

via phone line and cable

Special Offers, at various times, including FREE wireless router; order online and get 1 month FREE.

"Anytime" - unlimited broadband, with no time limits or download limits, one month free then 15.99 a month;

up to 1Mb, unlimited downloads, 14.99 a month for the first six months and 17.99 thereafter

(via cable or via a BT phone line) up to 2Mbps, unlimited downloads, 24.99 a month.

up to 8Mbps depending on where you live, unlimited downloads, free wireless router, first month free then 29.99 a month

Order AOL Broadband online and get 1 month free.

Orange Broadband (previously known as Wanadoo and Freeserve) - via BT phone line

up to 8mbps, free if you are an Orange pay monthly phone account ("saving you 17.99 a month"), although it appears from the Orange website that you cannot sign up for broadband without also signing up for an Orange mobile phone if you do not have one already;

existing Wanadoo customers can carry on as before or sign up for an Orange mobile phone account and get the broadband free.

 PlusNet

An open and honest broadband provider with over 10 years of Internet experience. Part of the BT group, we have more than 200,000 broadband customers, and focus on the discerning broadband user. PlusNet has recently been voted Best Overall Broadband Provider in the uSwitch Customer Satisfaction Report.

All options come with 1-month contracts, spam/virus protection and Broadband Firewall.

PlusNet Broadband Option 1 - £9.99 a month; 1GB usage allowance; Includes Broadband Phone PAYG; Free router available*

PlusNet Broadband Option 2- £14.99 a month; 8GB usage allowance; Includes Broadband Phone Evening & Weekends minutes; Free wireless router available*

PlusNet Broadband Option 3 - £19.99 a month; 20GB usage allowance; Includes Broadband Phone Anytime Minutes; Free wireless router available*

PlusNet Broadband Option 4 - £29.99 a month; 40GB usage allowance; Includes Broadband Phone Anytime Minutes; Free wireless router available

All Broadband Your Way options come with free overnight (midnight-8am) usage.

* Wireless router is free when you stay for 12 months, if you leave before 12 months you must pay the cost of the wireless router (see http://www.plus.net/residential/broadband/freesetup_bbyw.shtml)

PlusNet Broadband PRO - Great for Gamers
- Online gamers can get a broadband product that's designed to meet their specific needs by choosing Broadband Your Way Pro. They identify gaming traffic on their network and give it the highest priority, meaning gamers get the fast and responsive service they need. - £19.99 a month; 10GB usage allowance (with free usage between midnight-8am); Gaming and VoIP traffic prioritised; Up to 8Mb download speeds; 1-month contract; Includes Broadband Phone Anytime Minutes; Spam/Virus protection and Broadband Firewall included. Free wireless router available - when you stay for 12 months, if you leave before 12 months you must pay the cost of the wireless router.

they also have Business, Teleworker and homeworker products.

Sky Digital

* Sky TV - 1 mix with Talk and Broadband as 3 for £16

* Sky TV - 2 mixes with Sky Sports plus Sky Broadband and Sky Talk for 3 for £35

* Sky TV - 6 mixes Get Sky Digital TV, Broadband, Phone for £26, order online!

* Sky Broadband Base (£0 a month)

* a one off £30 set-up cost for new customers.

Tiscali - via BT phone line

free modem and connection

free anti-spam and anti-virus

Up to 1Mb Broadband, Unlimited monthly usage for regular users 14.99 a month

Up to 2Mb Broadband, Unlimited monthly usage 17.99 a month;

also offers for broadband and telephone calls see

ntl: - cable

see Virgin above

TeleWest

see Virgin above

An alternative to Broadband

If you're thinking about speeding up your connection but not sure about going the whole way down the broadband route, you might want to think about OnSpeed. It's available all over the world. For the equivalent of 2.08 a month you get up to 5 times faster connection on dial-up. They claim it works with any Internet connection in any country, and on PC, Mac or PocketPC. ONSPEED uses a technology called Content Sensitive Compression ('CSC') to individually compress each element of a web page or email content. More details from the OnSpeed website. They also claim it speeds up broadband too.