Best UK Unlimited Broadband? - Opinions welcome.

bolt7 · 12-08-2011, 16:17

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.)

**Chris** · 12-08-2011, 18:25

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 ...

bolt7 · 12-08-2011, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

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 ...

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.

MadGamer · 12-08-2011, 20:47

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

qasdfdsaq · 12-08-2011, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

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 ...

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.

Welshchris · 13-08-2011, 04:59

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

oliver1948uk · 13-08-2011, 08:41

But he has does not want a phone line.

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

**Maggy** · 13-08-2011, 08:59

IS there such an animal as a UK unlimited broadband?

Mick Fisher · 13-08-2011, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

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.

Seconded.

Tezcatlipoca · 13-08-2011, 13:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

IS there such an animal as a UK unlimited broadband?

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.

bolt7 · 13-08-2011, 16:59

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 Â£22.

Mick Fisher · 13-08-2011, 17:08

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.

bolt7 · 13-08-2011, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick Fisher

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.

May I ask what FTTC means?

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.

**Hugh** · 13-08-2011, 17:20

Fibre To The Cabinet (not to your house).

Tezcatlipoca · 13-08-2011, 17:24

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.