Broadband coverage

There are now over 18 million fixed line broadband customers in the UK, but their download speeds, as well as the price they pay each month, vary enormously. A lot of this depends on your distance from the nearest telephone exchange and the type of technology you're using.

Average speeds across Britain now stand at around 8Mb, but there are still millions of homes - particularly in remote rural areas - with much slower internet connections.

ADSL broadband coverage

Although 98% of the UK has access to copper wire ADSL broadband - either direct from BT or from a provider using BT's network - the speeds on offer are incredibly varied. This is the technology that many people living in non-LLU areas use.

Many providers use newer ADSL2+ technology to offer much faster connections, however, this is only available in upgraded areas. Many people are still on the older, slower packages, with the majority receiving actual speeds well under the advertised "up to" amounts.

Adding insult to injury, the non-LLU providers and packages are often more expensive than those available to customers living within the LLU network areas.

This is because LLU providers have installed their own technology in the local telephone exchange, allowing them to bypass BT's wholesale line rental costs, and pass the saving onto customers. If you live outside these areas, you might have to pay a "regional" price. This could be an additional monthly fee only applied to customers outside the LLU network, or a specific non-LLU package that's more expensive than the provider's LLU options.

Sky Connect from satellite giant Sky (www.Sky.com) and O2 Access Broadband from mobile operator O2 (www.O2.co.uk) are just two examples of fixed line options designed especially for non-LLU customers.

LLU broadband coverage

The number of LLU broadband lines in the UK is increasing all the time, allowing millions of households to benefit from cheaper broadband packages and great value bundles.

LLU technology allows providers to offer much cheaper broadband, and in the past some ISPs have even offered "free broadband" or "free line rental", allowing users to save hundreds of pounds on their annual bills.

Fibre optic broadband coverage

A new generation of superfast broadband networks are being rolled-out across the UK using fibre optic technology, allowing fixed line broadband speeds of up to 100Mb and more.

BT Infinity is a fibre broadband service already available to much of the UK, and should be an option for two-thirds of the population by 2014. BT is also installing fibre-to-the-home connections in new build areas, which will deliver even faster services comparable to Virgin Media's.

For people in areas without BT Infinity, superfast cable from Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com) is a very good alternative. Virgin Media is currently in the process of upgrading its top speed to 120Mb.

Mobile broadband coverage

Almost 100% of the UK can also access the country's mobile broadband network. Mobile broadband uses mobile phone masts to connect you to 3G mobile internet - allowing you to go online wherever you have a decent signal.

However, mobile broadband coverage varies from one provider to the next, depending on where you live. So you should always run a specific postcode search with your chosen provider before signing up to make sure that you'll get an adequate signal where you live, and anywhere else that you'll want to go online.

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