Features explained
What you need to know to get the broadband that's right for you.
What you need to know to get the broadband that's right for you.
Broadband internet is anything from 10 to 150 times faster than traditional dial-up connections, and is available to over 99% of UK homes.
So, you can wave goodbye to interminable pauses as pages download, and say hello to a host of new services, including live radio, streamed video clips and online gaming.
Broadband doesn't tie up your phone line and you pay by the amount you down- or upload rather than the time you spend online, so you can leave your connection on permanently if you want to.
Prices are competitive with dial-up subscriptions – starting from between £10 and £15 for standalone broadband services.
Some, such as Sky and TalkTalk (from the Carphone Warehouse), offer 'free' broadband. You have to sign up for their mobile, digital TV or phone service at the same time, so what’s on offer is an inclusive bundle for a single fee rather than a ‘free’ service.
There may be hidden costs such as connection fees, the service may have usage restrictions (see 'How to buy'), and you'll have to sign up to a lengthy contract (12 or 18 months), but if you're sure you'll make use of the paid-for service, this could be a cost effective choice.
Many more companies offer discounts on their broadband services if you take them as part of a bundle with other digital services.
Our article on phone and broadband bundles has more details on the offers.
Most homes can access broadband through BT's copper-wire phone network. This type of broadband is known as Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line or ADSL broadband. ADSL broadband is available to over 99% of UK households, although the speed you'll be able to get will vary depending on where you live - take a look at our article on broadband speed for more information.
You don’t have to use BT’s landline service to get ADSL – line rental providers such as TalkTalk and the Post Office also use BT’s network.
In the Hull area, the phone line network is provided by Kingston Communications rather than BT, and at the moment no providers other than Kingston Communications offer broadband services on this network.
Our product picker contains details of more than 100 ADSL broadband packages.
Cable broadband, only available from Virgin Media, provides an equivalent service to ADSL, using cable phone lines instead of BT's network. Cable broadband is available to about half of UK homes, mostly in urban areas.
Mobile companies Three and Vodafone now offer services whereby you can access broadband on your computer via the 3G mobile signal - the technology's very new and depends on there being a 3G signal, but may offer hope to anyone who can't get broadband vial ADSL or Cable. Because it operates in a different way to normal broadband we've not included these services in our product comparison, but prices start from £10 for a 1GB data transfer limit.
A final option for those who can't get broadband by any other means is satellite broadband, but it's pretty expensive (from around £60 a month) and has maximum speeds of 2Mbps.
With some satellite services you may need a dial-up service to upload – to send emails, for example. You can check what types of broadband are available in your area at www.broadbandchecker.co.uk.
To share your broadband with more than one computer, you can use a router (with built-in modem). Routers tend to be more expensive than standard modems although the price difference is narrowing rapidly.
Don’t fancy tripping over countless wires? Wireless modems and routers are becoming increasingly popular and cost from around £70. They fulfil the same function as normal modems or routers but without the need for wires trailing all over the place.
For more information on wireless networking, take a look at our reports on Best Buy wireless routers and .
Broadband is easier than dial-up for hackers to exploit because you can be online constantly if you wish, so security is paramount.
Many ISPs provide anti-virus protection but often these just monitor emails, so won't pick up viruses from other sources. To be completely safe, you need independent anti-virus software, plus a firewall and anti-spyware software.
Consider purchasing an internet security suite which contains all 3, typically from around £40 (see our reviews of security software). There are also plenty of excellent free options available such as:
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