Broadband Guide

Free broadband

Tuesday 29 May, 2012

By Helen Thomas

TalkTalk was the first provider to offer free broadband back in 2006 with a raft of other providers quickly getting in on the act. However the offers disappeared just as quickly and it is only Sky that continues to offer a “free” broadband package. The question is: is it as good as it sounds?

Is it really free broadband?

Of course nothing is really free. But since most households are already paying for their line rental, as well as the cost of digital TV or home phone calls - which BT (www.BT.com) customers will find are not the cheapest around - a “free broadband” offer could save you money, simply by cutting out the additional cash you would have to fork out each month for your internet connection.

But money isn’t the only thing that you need to take into account. Free broadband got off to a poor start and a subsequent bad rap - TalkTalk (www.Talktalk.co.uk) was so inundated with subscriptions that it was unable to connect many people for weeks at a time, and connection speeds for both TalkTalk and Orange's (www.Orange.co.uk) own free broadband offering were poor.

However, Sky (www.Sky.com) was far more successful in its free broadband launch, having learnt from TalkTalk's previous mistakes. Plus, it offers speeds of up to 14Mb broadband on its free tariff.

Currently Sky is the only provider to offer free broadband for more than a short time, however this is only available to Sky TV and phone customers as part of a bundle.

Other providers often run special offers that mean your broadband will effectively be free for the first few months of your contract.

Any catches?

Sky's free broadband package only comes with a distinctly limited usage allowance - so if you are anything other than a light internet user these packages are unlikely to be suitable for your needs.

It’s also important to remember that when you get a free add-on, you might not always get the highest quality service, however, Sky has won a number of awards for its reliable broadband service.

Michael Phillips, Broadbandchoices.co.uk product director, said: “Free broadband has come a long way since TalkTalk first launched the concept.

“But remember that it’s not just about cheap broadband. You need to think about how you will use your broadband. If you only need it for very light activities like checking emails and online banking, Sky’s free Everyday Lite package, with its 2GB limit, would be fine. However, if you want to download movies and music, or stream iPlayer, you’ll need a higher download allowance - and free broadband is unlikely to offer this.

“But free broadband isn’t the only way to keep costs down - there are many reliable, low-cost deals around too,” he advised.

Video: Top tips on free broadband packages

Are there any other freebies available?

TalkTalk’s free broadband revolutionised the market, spurring a host of competitors to offer not only free broadband, but also free laptops. Vodafone (www.Vodafone.co.uk) and AOL (www.AOL.co.uk) even offered free games consoles at one point.

These days, “free laptops” are less common, however, Three (www.Three.co.uk) still has a free laptop option available on some of its 24 month broadband connections. Three also offer iPads at a reduced price when purchased on certain mobile broadband contracts. While these deals might not get you a genuinely free computer - you'll pay for your PC and some over the course of the contract - they do allow you to spread the cost of your new computer or iPad over two years.

Mobile phone operators like Orange (www.Orange.co.uk) and O2 (www.O2.co.uk) who have branched out into the broadband market have also taken advantage of their considerable customer bases by offering discounts to their existing mobile customers who sign up to a broadband package.

Broadband with a free connection

Although there are fewer free broadband packages around these days, you can still save a bit of money by looking for a broadband package without a connection fee.

Broadband providers regularly run special promotions offering free connection so it’s worth looking around for deals currently being offered. However, don’t be blinded by the headline promotion costly monthly payments might make a package more expensive in the long run.

Compare broadband providers by first-year cost with our comparison service. That way you’ll know about any special deals on offer and will be able to find a package to suit your needs - and your pocket.

“When choosing your new broadband package, compare prices and then weigh costs against the kind of service that you want. There’s no point saving on a service that you can’t use in the way you need,” concluded Phillips.

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