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Wireless Broadband Providers
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Wireless Broadband Providers
BT's (www.BT.com) range of wireless services really let you take wifi to the next level. As well as letting you log onto the internet from anywhere within your home, its Home Hub also lets you make cheap UK and international calls over the internet using VoIP technology and you can even use it to watch digital TV using the BT Vision service.
You can even choose to share a part of your BT Total Broadband signal with other BT users via the BT Fon network. The rest of your connection remains secure, but other members will be able to access the internet via your router - allowing you to do the same when you’re out and about.
BT has also recently launched a new package, Anywhere, which comes with a free BT ToGo phone to let you get on the internet no matter where you are - taking advantage of hundreds of wireless hotspots.
However, BT’s packages are more costly than most - especially if you want one with “unlimited” downloads - for example, Option 2 Heavy Use costs £20.99 after the first three months but has a download allowance of only 15GB; Option 3 Unlimited costs £24.99 after the first three months and Anywhere costs £29.99 after the promotional period - and all are tied to 18 month contracts.
At the same time, BT remain popular because it providers high standards of customer service and is a known, reliable brand that people can trust. These packages are also perfect for families, or anyone a little unsure of the technical side of setting up a wifi network; the Home Hub comes with preconfigured security and great online safety features.
O2
When O2 (www.O2.co.uk) launched its home broadband service in October 2007, it was determined not to make the mistakes of other providers with erratic download speeds and expensive, sub-standard customer service and technical support.
And it seems to have succeeded. It has UK-based call centres that are free to call, a line checking service before and after your broadband has been installed to ensure you’re receiving an adequate speed for your package, and even a £5 a month discount for its mobile phone customers.
All of O2’s packages - 8Mb, 16Mb and 20Mb - come with “unlimited” downloads (a fair usage policy applies), free McAfee internet security for three computers and even a 50 day money back guarantee.
They also all come with a free O2 wireless box, allowing you to connect up to 10 computers at any one time, no matter where they are in your home.
In terms of cost, O2 is very competitive - especially if you’re a mobile phone customer too. Existing customers can get its up to 8Mb package for only £7.50 a month, or its “super-fast” 16Mb or 20Mb packages for £10 and £15 a month respectively. Standard prices are £5 a month more; £12.50, £15 and £20 a month - all still good deals.
O2’s packages are suitable for anyone determined to get - or simply in need of - a high standard of customer service and a reliable broadband connection. O2 has become a popular provider in a short time because of its dedication to improving the broadband market.
Be Broadband
Be Broadband (www.BeThere.co.uk) was the first ISP to offer speeds of up to 24Mb and as its owned by O2, the O2 broadband service now runs on the Be network - so as you can imagine, it’s a reliable provider.
All three of its packages - Be Pro, Be Unlimited and Be Value come with a free wifi Be Box modem, allowing you to get online wire-free quickly and easily.
All three packages also offer “unlimited” downloads (with a fair usage policy), with the Be Value offer downloads at up to 8Mb, and the Unlimited and Pro packages offering speeds of up to 24Mb.
Be’s packages are reasonably priced, with the Value package costing £14 a month, Unlimited costing £18 a month and the top, Pro package costing £22 a month - and this one comes with a free static IP address and a whopping upload limit of up to 2.5Mb.
Be’s packages - which won the “Best sumo consumer broadband” award at this year’s ISPAs - is suitable for anyone looking for a heavy-duty broadband package that can cope with all their needs, from online gaming to remote access of the office PC.
AOL
AOL's (www.AOL.co.uk) three packages, Wireless, Wireless Plus and Wireless Flexi all focus on making wireless broadband as easy and as accessible as possible.
All three come with a download speed of up to 8Mb, and the Wireless and Wireless Flexi packages have a 10GB download allowance while Wireless Plus has a 40GB limit. And of course, all three come with a free wireless router worth £50.
All three packages also come with an inclusive phone package, while Wireless Flexi is a no-contract broadband package, allowing you to cancel at any time (a £29.99 connection fee applies), and Wireless Plus even comes with a free laptop - to use anywhere you want with your new wireless broadband.
The Wireless and Wireless Flexi packages cost £4.99 for the first three months and £14.99 thereafter, while Wireless Plus, with its free laptop, high download allowance and AOL Talk Pay As You Go costs £9.99 for the first three months and £19.99 thereafter.
AOL is known for providing reliable customer service and its technical support is free when you call from an AOL line, making it great for technophobes. It also comes with free security and parental controls making it a great family choice.
PlusNet
PlusNet (www.Plus.net) not only won the 2008 ISPA award for Best Consumer ISP, it was also named Best Broadband Provider, 2008 by BroadbandChoices.co.uk, where Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “We weren’t surprised to see PlusNet at the top of the table. Being a relatively small provider compared to other contenders allows them to really focus on customer service.”
The ISP currently offers four home broadband products; three standard packages and a dedicated gamers’ package.
All come with up to 8Mb downloads, but with its gaming tariff Broadband Your Way Pro - which comes with a 15GB download allowance and costs £19.99 a month - gaming and VoIP traffic is prioritised.
Its three standard packages, Options 1, 2 and 3, all come with rolling one month contracts, though if you want a free wireless router you’ll have to sign a 12 month contract.
The packages, costing £9.99, £14.99 and £19.99 a month come with set download limits of 1GB, 15GB and 30GB respectively, but overnight downloads are unlimited and do not affect monthly allowances. Additional usage can also be purchased.
PlusNet packages have won a host of awards and accolades over the years and the ISP is a great choice for anyone wanting a reliable, transparent and fairly priced service that will meet all their broadband needs.
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