If you’re having technical, service or supply problems, or just have a question you want answering, why not write to OurExpert@BroadbandChoices.co.uk
Michael Phillips is product director at BroadbandChoices.co.uk and can help with anything from contractual problems, to giving technical advice or telling you how to speed up those slow movie downloads.
Our expert says...
Hi Prerna. You have more than one option to get broadband in your home without a BT (www.bt.co.uk) line. With a wireless provider you don’t need a BT land line or cable access, but before you sign up for new services there are a number of things to consider.
Option 1 - Sharing
Do either of the other families in your house have a wireless internet connection? If so, you can offer to pay a percentage of their bill and sign onto the internet using their wireless connection. They may benefit from upgrading to an unlimited usage package but this option would be cheaper for both of you if you are splitting the bill.
The Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) broadband connection might be best for sharing. Upgrade to the Broadband XL with up to 20Mb service and no download limits. At the time of publication Virgin offers this deal at £10 a month for the first 3 months and £20 a month after that. The price is based on also taking Virgin Media's phone services. You could offer to pay the difference of the upgrade.
Option 2 - Mobile Broadband
If you do not think the other families in your house are interested in sharing their connection, you can either use mobile broadband (surf the net and send emails through your mobile phone) or set up your own wireless connection through a provider such as 3 (www.three.co.uk) Broadband.
With 3 Broadband you don’t need a BT land line or cable access. The broadband service uses 3’s mobile network for internet. You can use your connection anywhere in the home and also use it on the go. When you sign up for the service, 3 will send you a dongle (portable modem). You simply plug it into your computer and start using the internet
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You can sign up for Broadband Max which is 7GB of data allowance for £25 per month with no one-off fees and a contract. The major drawback with most mobile broadband packages is the lengthy contact period of 18 months.
If you do not want a contract, you can go with 3’s Pay as You Go option but the dongle will cost £99.
Option 3 – Land Line Installed
Even though you might think you cannot have another BT line installed in your home, you can. BT can install a land line in your bedroom if you prefer but you will have to pay the installation fee of £124.99. Then you can choose whichever broadband provider you wish.
Unlimited Downloads
You’ve specified that you need a service with unlimited downloads. It’s worth mentioning that ‘unlimited download’ packages are subject to fair usage policies. This means you really do not get unlimited downloading and your ISP can penalise you for going beyond a certain limit, albeit a high limit. You might want to review our guide on Fair Usage.
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