Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

We've been with Virgin Media for around eight years now, and I think it's time to change. We're currently on a package deal for the Phone, TV and Internet, but my family are wanting to get rid of both the Phone and TV parts of the package. I've offered to pay the broadband costs myself, but am thinking of switching providers.

I've taken a look around the net and am finding the deals very confusing. There's a lot of hidden costs; they advertise low prices on their main page, but when you look into it, there's a tonne of hidden fees. O2 and Talk Talk are two I have been looking at, but O2's costs more than what we're paying now (after the first few months) and Talk Talk has capped broadband. I really don't want limited broadband (since I play games online and there are quite a few online devices in this house.) Fair usage policy is fine though. I've also been looking into Fibre Optic, though apparently (by Talk Talk at least) it isn't available in our area...

So I put it to you Cable users living in the UK! In your honest opinions, what is the best Unlimited broadband service available and what experiences have you had with the service (if any?)

(Also, I apologise if this has been posted in the wrong section.)

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

If you have Virgin Media cable broadband, and it's working reliably, why change? The chances of you getting a faster service on any ADSL ISP are vanishing to none.

If it ain't broke ... ;)

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Yeah, this is very true, and something I still have in mind.

The TV and Phone are going, no questions asked. I'm wondering how easy / difficult it'd be to cancel them and somehow sign the Internet over from my mums name to mine (since I'm currently still living at home.) She pays extra not to pay the bill by direct debit whilst I would happily pay through it. Stuff like that needs to change, and I guess just calling them and having a chat is the best thing to do.

True about speed though. Looking at other ISP's and comparing them, Virgin does always seem to come out on top. I was just wondering if there were any other great deals out there I hadn't picked up on yet. :D

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Why not try phoning them, to see what deal they can do you as an existing customer? :)

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

That's assuming he's not a heavy user, at which point anything below 50mb could quite easily be beat by ADSL.

I'd personally recommend Be. Between them and Sky, they're the only truly unlimited services around, whereas O2 have a FUP; also Be as far as I'm aware apply zero traffic shaping, whereas O2 reserve the right to but I'm uncertain if they actually do yet. Once FTTC becomes available on Be, I'll be straight off my VM cable and over to them in no time.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

The Best ISP i was ever with was Eclipse Internet years ago.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

But he has does not want a phone line.

For ADSL he will have to have a BT line installed.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

IS there such an animal as a UK unlimited broadband?:)

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Seconded.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Sky, Be, O2.

Sky has no usage limit, no FUP, and no traffic management.

Be has no usage limit & no traffic management, not sure about the FUP. The website mentions an FUP, but it seems to be more of an AUP (e.g. "don't do these naughty things...") rather than an FUP (e.g. "It's "unlimited" but we may take action if you go over x GB...").

O2 has no usage limit, but does have an FUP, and I'm not sure about traffic management.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

I wouldn't say I'm a heavy net user, but I'd like to download without worrying I'd go over a limit every month. Plus, as I mentioned before, our house has three computers and multiple devices that all share the Internet connection. It'd be a nightmare trying to manage all of it on limited broadband.

I'd never heard of Be before and their service / deals sound great. Typically, going by the website it does not look like they're available in my region. Whenever I select a package and enter my postcode / landline number, I get a "Sorry, you live too far away from the exchange to receive this service." Grimsby isn't on their coverage list either. Very disappointing, as I liked the sound of (up to) 24meg download for £22.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Hang on in there for a bit as Be are expected to offer an FTTC based product soon that may prove to be more suited to your needs.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

May I ask what FTTC means? :dunce:

I've posted on their Facebook enquiring about the coverage here. It's going to be either them or stick with Virgin, I think. I'm looking at Sky and BT now, but see a lot of complaints. Virgin haven't been bad, but Be look to be better speeds at a better price. I'm happy waiting a few months though- we'll just give Virgin a call and cancel the TV / Phone whilst still paying for Broadband. Fingers crossed Be will have coverage in Grimsby soon enough.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Fibre To The Cabinet (not to your house).

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

FTTC = Fibre to the cabinet



Sky... I'd assume that the vast majority of complaints you've seen regarding Sky broadband have been for Sky's non-LLU service called "Connect"? Sky Broadband "Connect" is a re-sold BTWholesale IPStream product, which is subject to traffic management & usage limits and has been widely criticised as being utter crap (doesn't take much searching to find complaints about it). Sky's LLU services, however, are excellent.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Sky broadband is as close to it as you'll get. Unlimited no traffic management.

---------- Post added at 13:02 ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 ----------

Sky.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Be.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

advide Talk Talk Like the plage AOl is a part of Talk Talk . i hard good reports About 02 I on Sky have been on for 3 yars 4 years in March 20 12 i am vare Happy wthem they bring out new moders wher Bt O R roll fibre opice bb. A firend on Bt they 2 are happy wthe tham Bt infey is some parts of uk . Like you i was on V M the BB was vare good i have to say but tv And Phone sevice in earst of Southampton was Alfull i think thats Chaging in the next year . my recomdison is Sky BB :cool:

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

I know BT went unlimited on a couple of their packages a few months back. Infinity option 2 being one of them :)

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

My daughter is on BE and they are fantastic. No download limits and no traffic management and also no application throttling. I am seriously thinking of changing from Virgin to them myself.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

I've never known BE to enforce their FUP and have even seen people on their forums reporting doing 1TB + in a month.

I also have a C&W LLU line via a Murphx reseller that's supposedly unlimited, however I've yet to really push a large amount of data though it.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

If you can afford it, VM Cable

If not, use Sky unlimited or Bethere.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

VM cable isn't unlimited.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Seconded.......:tu:

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

talk24 are good, the upload is always the same as the download, 20,30,60 and 100mbit connection

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

i word Say thores in Order 1 Sky Brodband
2 Bt Infeney Brodband

3 Bt Total Broband

4 Vm Brodband
5 02 Brodband
6 Orange Brodband ;)

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

you seemed to have got the list completely wrong..

i would say..

1)talk24 (they have same uploads as down)
2) VM
3) BT infinity
4) o2
5) orange
6) sky? sky just sucks

I guess it depends on the area you are in and how good the connection is there, for some VM sucks.. for me its the best uk isp along side with talk24 If i was in a talk24 area

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

You mean 24Talk? They only offer ADSL2+ service which is 24Mbps and is certainly not symmetrical.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

no, talk 24.. its available in limited areas and they offer 8/8 - 30/30 - 60/60 and 100/100 and I know 100% for sure that is the case as my brother has the 100/100 connection in London

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

My first choice would be virginmedias...second would be bt...

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Sky's "Broadband Connect" service sucks, as it is a re-sold BT Wholesale product and subject to traffic management by Sky. Search various forums and you'll find many tales of woe about Connect.

Sky's LLU "Broadband Unlimited" service, however, is awesome. No usage limit, no FUP, no traffic management... and only £7.50 per month if you have Sky TV and Sky Talk (or £12.50 without Sky Talk / £10 without Sky TV... compare that to O2's £12.50/£17.50 for people with/without O2 mobile). The only reason Sky's LLU broadband would "suck" would be if someone had a crappy line (length or quality), which would also of course affect any other ADSL provider.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

for me I would chose dial up over ADSL lol

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Weblink? They dont seem to exist anywhere?

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

My brother has them at his apartments for university and actual people who work there at the isp where there telling us about the services and offers they had on paper so I dont have a link... I heard about this isp some time ago before my brother was at uni but I could never find a link either

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

They will be a bespoke ISP probably in MDU's/Student accomodation mainly. They wont be available for residential use and definitel ynot anything outside an MDU.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Que? :confused:

---------- Post added at 14:30 ---------- Previous post was at 14:30 ----------

Something useful - do you, OP, mind traffic shaping or not?

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

adsl is way better faster dislike up can take minutrs ro load a webpage?!!!

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

I suspect if you live in Nicosia ADSL isn't an option.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

where do you get this info from?

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

As someone else said, if your service is reliable, then Virgin is your best option. They have the best broadband, and the best phone service. It's just the TV that isn't as good as Sky.

As someone else also said, speak to Virgin and see what they can offer you. I have had extras added to my account on several occasions, and actually ended up paying less.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

dont bt too they have fibe optic ...?

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

+1

Sky TV + Virgin 100mb = <3

Cant comment much on the 'Best' as I'm always going to say Virgin since they were my first provider.. although as NTL or whatever it was back then. Only other Broadband I've experienced is Sky Connect which I have as backup.. so you can guess I actually have no backup really...

Sky connect isn't unlimited is it? Isn't for me. 40gb per month here and max speed of 6mb due to availability in my area.

Re: Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.
 

Only if headline download speed is your one and only concern in the world.

That's like saying a town has the nicest girls based purely on the size of their boobs. There are other factors that make a decent broadband connection and VM fail on nearly all of them.