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The BT internet broadband (www.BT.com) service offers a range of different packages to suit all needs and budgets, with home broadband, landline calls and even mobile broadband and digital TV on offer.
If you want BT Broadband (www.BT.com) in your home, there are three basic options available to you, known as BT Total broadband Options 1, 2 and 3. All of the BT Total Broadband packages come with up to 16Mb broadband download speeds.
| More Broadband and Calls | TV Essential + More Broadband and Calls | Broadband and Evening and Weekend Calls | TV Essential + Broadband and Anytime Calls | ||||
| Monthly charge | £9.00 (for 3 months)£25 Gift CardEnds soon | £13.00 (for 3 months)£25 Gift CardEnds soon | £13.00 Free for 6 months£25 Gift Card Ends soon | £17.00 Online Exclusive£25 Gift CardEnds soon | |||
| Speed (up to) | 16Mb | 16Mb | 16Mb | 16Mb | |||
| Usage limit | 40GB | 40GB | 10GB | 10GB | |||
| Contract length | 18 months | 18 months | 18 months | 18 months | |||
The main difference between these three packages is how much data you can download each month. Option 1, for instance, gives you a monthly usage limit of 10GB, which is enough to download around 2,500 music files or watch 25 hours of video streaming services like the BBC iPlayer.
Bear in mind though, that it’s not just “downloading” that uses up your allowance - simply browsing the internet and checking emails will also affect your usage. So while you might not intend to download 2,500 songs a month, you also need to take into account normal online activities.
If you'd prefer a higher download limit, Option 2 offers 20GB a month, while Option 3 offers “unlimited broadband” downloads, subject to a fair usage policy.
You also get a few extras added to each package as you go up in price, such as more comprehensive anti-virus software and more inclusive Wi-Fi minutes.
BT's mobile broadband option gives you the freedom to access the internet from your laptop while you're out and about. It's a pay-as-you-go service so you just pay a one-off price for a BT dongle, plug it into your laptop's USB port and you're ready to surf the web. You don't have to sign a contract, and you can pre-pay for your data and simply top up conveniently online as and when you need to.
You don't have to have a BT (www.BT.com) connection at home to use the BT mobile broadband service, although existing customers can save £20 when they buy the pay-as-you-go dongle.
BT mobile broadband service offers download speeds of up to 7.2Mb in some areas of the UK - around 80% of the country can achieve speeds of up to 1.8Mb. The actual speed of your connection will also depend on how many other people are using the network, how close you are to the local mobile phone mast and whether or not any obstructions - such as buildings and even trees - are blocking your mobile signal.
If you're not already a BT (www.BT.com) customer and you'd like to switch you home broadband, you will need a BT phone socket - most UK homes will have at least one, even if it is no longer active. If you have a socket, you will need to get a MAC code from your current provider for BT to switch your service. .
If there is no socket in your house, BT will have to send an engineer to install one for you. There is often a charge for this, though BT does offer reductions and often gives discounts to customers who are switching away from Virgin Media's (www.VirginMedia.com) cable network.
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