| Broadband FAQs | | Print | |
Looking for broadband? Use our broadband availability checker, left, to compare broadband in your area. Or find out more about broadband with our Frequently Asked Questions, below. Broadband helpRead our FAQs about broadband and how to use this website, and browse broadband articles. Click on the links below to find out more. If you need more information check out our Broadband Glossary. About broadbandWhat are the benefits of broadband? Broadband typesWhat is ADSL broadband? Broadband termsWhat do Mb, Meg, GB and Gig mean? Using UK Broadband FinderHow do I use the broadband availability checker? About UK Broadband FinderWho runs UK Broadband Finder? Business Broadband FAQsUK Broadband Finder articlesHow to get broadband What are the benefits of broadband?A broadband connection allows you to access the internet and still use your home phone, nearly always for a fixed monthly fee. Broadband is also much faster than dial-up. Broadband download speeds start at 512kb (with many broadband deals now offering up to 8Mb) while dial up speeds are typically around 57.6kb.  How do I use the broadband availability checker on UK Broadband Finder?Just add your BT phone number or your postcode into the search box in the panel on the left, select Home or Business, and click the Find button. You can also select whether to view summary or full details in your results. It will then display broadband packages available in your area. The broadband package listings pages with your results have a range of filters at the top so you can narrow down your search by factors such as price, speed, download allowance, etc. Or hide the filters if you just want to browse the full list (note that after using filters you should click the Clear Filters button, otherwise your filter may affect your later searches). You can also click on Maps at the top of yur results page to see where your nearest exchange is. On your results page you also get another chance to select Summary or Detailed results, or you can simply click through to each package - click on the logo, package name or More button for more information, or click on Buy to go straight to the provider's website to find out more and to sign up. Searching for cable? Please note that if you are searching for cable services, you should search on your postcode rather than your BT phone number. Is broadband available to everyone in the UK?Most areas in the UK can now get broadband, either through tthe local BT exchange, or through another method such as cable modem broadband (if they do not have a BT phone line) or via satellite broadband. How do I choose a provider?This is entirely up to you. We provide a tool for you to find out what is available in your area. You may then feel that price is your main concern, or speed - alternatively you may want to use a provider that your friends or family have recommended for particularly good service, for example. Why not read our article Choosing an internet service provider (ISP), which lists many of the ways people select the right broadband for them. What is ADSL broadband?ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line - most broadband provided through a phone line is ADSL. ADSL splits the wire into two so it can carry data (when you download from or upload to the web) and voice (when you are on the phone). ADSL Max is also now available from most BT exchanges. See the ADSL Max FAQ for more information. If you haven't already done so, don’t forget to check whether the package or provider you’re interested in operates in your area - put your BT phone number OR your postcode into the broadband checker on the left hand panel, select Home or Business, then click Find. If you need to upload large amounts of data to the internet (usually large businesses) you may want to look at SDSL – Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line, which, as its name suggests, has a fast upload speed. What is ADSL Max?ADSL Max is a sort of “super ADSL” from BT which gives you access to higher download speeds such as 8Mb. Most BT exchanges are now ADSL Max-enabled. Please note that speeds are always "up to", as so many other factors affect broadband speed. You can check your current provider's speed wih our free broadband speed checker.
What is ADSL2+?ADSL2+ makes download speeds of up to 20Mb or more possible, more than doubling what is available on ADSL. Currently all packages supplied by the provider Be are ADSL2+ packages, with speeds of up to 24Mb, though even if you can receive the package, you may not achieve those speeds because of other factors. To receive ADSL2+ your exchange must be enabled. If your exchange is not yet enabled, it may be in line to be enabled in the near future. Please note that speeds are always "up to", as so many other factors affect broadband speed. You can check your current provider's speed wih our free broadband speed checker.
What is DSL broadband?DSL technology is a way of downloading and uploading date via a phone line. ADSL and SDSL are types of DSL.
What is cable broadband (sometimes called cable modem)?Do you have cable TV or live in an area where cable is available? Then you might want to consider a cable broadband internet connection, particularly if you don’t have a BT phoneline. Cable broadband providers offer phone and TV channels together with the broadband connection as part of a package, but you can also take the broadband element on its own. The broadband connection requires a cable modem – this is often provided free by the provider when you sign up. There is now one major cable internet broadband provider in the UK: Virgin Media. Searching for cable? Please note that if you are searching for cable services using our broadband availability checker, you should search on your postcode rather than your BT phone number. What is mobile broadband?Mobile broadband means you can access the internet while out and about in the UK or abroad. Wireless-enabled laptops can link into broadband hotspots and commercial open networks (there may be a charge for this). Alternatively mobile providers such as Vodafone and 3 are offering mobile broadband that links into their mobile networks. You will need hardware such as a USM modem, datacard or USB stick. These are provided (usually at a one-off cost, but sometimes for free) by the mobile broadband providers.
What is wireless broadband?Not to be confused with a wireless network, for wireless broadband you don’t need a phone line of any type. Instead, an antenna on the outside of your house signals to your computer via an internal connection point. Wireless broadband is becoming increasingly popular in remote areas where ADSL and cable internet are unavailable.
Can I get broadband over a wireless network in my home?Anyone can set up a wireless network in their home so they can go online around the house – it simply means you can access the internet without wires. You will need a wireless router (some providers offer free or reduced cost wireless routers with some packages). If you set up a wireless network in your home you should ensure you have adequate security so people in the local area cannot access your network. Find out more about broadband providers offering wireless routers and help with wireless networks. What is satellite broadband?You may want to consider satellite broadband if you live in an area without access to broadband via cable or via a phone line. To use satellite broadband, you will need a special dish containing an antenna receiver which connects with a satellite.
Two-way systems are fast but can be much more expensive, and so are a better option for businesses rather than residential broadband users. Drawbacks to satellite broadband include slow service at busy times, and poor weather conditions affecting the service. Satellite broadband can suffer from latency, when there is a delay between trying to do something and it actually happening. This can be a problem if you need to use online services such as web conferencing.
How fast will my broadband be?While we're a long way from the interminable waits of dial-up in the mid-1990s, it is true that broadband can sometimes fail to live up to expectations. Some providers are now offering up to 10Mb, 22 Mb or even 24Mb broadband. These tend to be LLU (local loop unbundling) providers who can put their own high-tech equipment, including equipment for ADSL2+, into BT exchanges, or cable companies which can offer up to 20Mb.
NOTE ON BROADBAND SPEEDS: top speeds vary significantly, in particular because of a user’s distance from the local exchange. You should bear this in mind when selecting a broadband package. Also note the "up to", particularly for very fast speeds (eg "up to 22 meg"). Some users may be able to achieve these high speeds but they will not be guaranteed. Other factors can affect speed, including how near you are to the exchange, or the condition of your phone line, and some high speed providers may not offer the service if you are a certain distance or more from the exchange. Check the terms and conditions when you click through to the provider sites so you know what to expect. You can also check your current provider's speed wih our free broadband speed checker. Contention ratios can also affect speed - these are listed for many of our packages.
What do Mb, Meg, GB and Gig mean?The different terms used - meg, mb, kb, gb and Gig - can be confusing. The smallest unit is the kilobit, often written as kb. 512 kilobits, or 512 kb as it is usually written, is the minimum speed, or transfer rate, for broadband. it actually means 512kb per second. Dial-up speeds are around 57.6 kb. On this website you will see kb in the upload speeds and in the slower download broadband speeds. The next size up is the megabit, also referred to as Mb or Meg (particularly in speech). There are 1024 kilobits (or kb) in 1 megabit. You will see this in the Download Speed fields on this website, for packages of 1Mb or above (again, 1Mb per second). A gigabyte is 1024 megabytes (a megabyte is 8 times a megabit). You will also hear it referred to as a Gig, or written as GB. On this website you will sometimes see this in the Download Allowance field. Remember that a Gig download allowance refers to an amount of data, not a transfer rate. What does download speed mean?This is the speed per second at which you can download information (eg a webpage, a song, a film or a pdf) to your computer. Broadband download speeds vary from 512kb to 24Mb or more (1Mb, or 1Megabit per second, is 1024 kb, or 1024 kilobits per second, so you can see the wide variation in download speeds). In practice, the speed you receive is depend on many factors, including the contention ratio and your distance from your local exchange – you will notice that providers offering higher download speeds will say that the higher speed is “up to 8MB” or “up to 24Mb” as they cannot guarantee the top speed. What is the upload speed and why is it usually much less than the download speed?The upload speed is the speed per second that you can upload to the web. Most people subscribing to broadband for residential use don’t upload much – perhaps a blog, family photos or a small website. If you do need to upload more – maybe you upload songs to your band’s website, or you have a business and you have to upload large documents to the web, or you have a large website where visitors are constantly viewing pages (which counts as uploading to the web from your end) – look for a package with a faster upload speed. Some residential packages have this, particularly those with the higher download speeds, and many of the home business packages also offer it. What is the download allowance? Where the download speed refers to how quickly you can download something, the download allowance refers to how much you are allowed to download in a given timespan, usually a month. Providers realise that you may need to download more during one month so if you go over your allowance they may allow you to purchase more download allowance, or they may allow you to go over the limit occasionally without incurring charges – however you should check this before you sign up.Some give specific usage limits such as 1GB, or 1Gig, which is equivalent to 1024 Megabytes (or 1024Mb). Many broadband providers advertise unlimited download allowances on some of their broadband packages - however these will nearly always come with a fair usage policy. These policies are available on their websites. What is a connection charge?Sometimes knows as an installation charge or a set-up fee, this is a one-off payment to connect you to the broadband service. Some connection charges may seem high, particularly if you are taking a new phone line as part of the package – but many providers offer free set up, either at all times or as an occasional special offer. Set-up or connection charges may be added in later, eg if you leave before a standard 12-month contract period is up. It is also worth working out your likely first year broadband costs as some of those providers with a set up fee may have lower monthly fees or discounted monthly fees. What is the contention ratio?You will have seen that some of the packages listed on this site include information on the contention ratio. This refers to how many other subscribers share the network connection between you and the exchange. Contention is a feature of ADSL broadband. If you see a contention ratio of, say, 50:1, this means that 50 subscribers share that bandwidth. The more subscribers sharing the bandwidth then the slower your connection will be. 50:1 is common for a residential package. However you may prefer to pay more for a service with a lower contention ratio. Business packages often have lower contention ratios, eg of 20:1 or even 10:1, because it is essential to them that they have a continually fast service. The contention ratio certainly isn't the only factor determining download speed - this could be down to the distance from your exchange, or to another factor - but it could be part of the cause of slow speeds, or the main cause, particularly if your sharing subscribers are heavy users. If you'd like to know more about broadband speeds, check out the other FAQs or read our article How fast is your broadband... really? Or check you current broadband speed with our free broadband speed test. I have already got broadband - how easy is it to switch providers?If you have a BT phone line you should contact your existing provider and request a Migration Authorisation Code (MAC) which you then give to your new provider - you can usually do this during the online sign-up process. The new provider will then arrange the transfer for you. SInce 14 February 2007, the MAC process has become compulsory, and those providers for whom the MAC system is not applicable still have obligations to help switchers. Visit the Ofcom website to find out more, and read our Switching broadband providers page. If you are switching using a MAC code, don't cancel your existing broadband package as you will then be without broadband until your new provider can connect you. Can I keep my BT line and number?If you subscribe to an ADSL package you will keep your BT phone line. Some providers only offer broadband through their own line so you also have to take your phone line from them.The cable provider Virgin Media provides some of its services through a cable (and is therefore available in cabled areas only), but you can keep your BT phone line if you want to, so you could receive broadband and digital TV via the cable but keep your BT phone line. Or you could choose to have your phone delivered via the cable too. What is local loop unbundling (sometimes known as LLU)?Local loop unbundling is the process whereby ISPs and telecoms companies put their own equipment into BT exchanges. They can then rent the unbundled loop from BT, and offer improved broadband services along the copper wires from the exchange to the socket in your home (it is these wires that go from the exchange to home or business that constitute the "local loop"). Typically, as LLU operators' equipment is more modern, faster speeds can be achieved. (see our FAQ on broadband speeds.) Some exchanges have been unbundled faster than others - it has made economic sense for LLU providers (as they are known) to get their equipment into exchanges which supply large numbers of internet users, so you may find that if you live in a sparsely populated area that you have less choice when it comes to broadband providers, packages and speeds. Equally if you live in an urban area you may find you have plenty of choice (as an exchange can host more than one LLU provider). Before local loop unbundling many broadband providers and ISPs simply bought bandwidth from BT Wholesale. With local loop unbundling, increased competition and better technology should mean lower prices and faster speeds. Why are some products not available in my area?Currently there is a range of broadband types available, including ADSL, ADSL Max, ADSL2+, cable, wireless broadband and satellite broadband.Cable availability from Virgin Media is dependent on you living in a cabled area – most urban areas are now cabled (meaning there is a cable in your street) but in rural areas there simply isn’t the cable network. ADSL Max from BT is available is most areas of the UK. In many areas providers have gone a step further and put their own high-tech equipment into BT exchanges. This is known as local loop unbundling (or LLU) and means they can provide faster broadband, usually ADSl Max speeds of up to 8Mb. Some providers have gone further started putting ADSL2+ equipment into the BT exchanges so they can offer much faster broadband speeds, but this depends on whether your exchange has been enabled. All these factors affect what is available in your area, as do other factors such as your distance from your BT exchange. Are the offers on UK Broadband Finder available to everybody? All packages and offers have terms and conditions, and you should check these when you click through to the provider site (you do this when you click on the Buy button, or on many of the text links throughout the site). Some packages and offers may only be available to people switching to a provider but not to current customers wishing to upgrade, for example. Broadband packages on this site are for over-18s in the UK market only. I am looking for broadband outside of the UK - can you help me? This website only covers broadband availability in the UK. Where can I find special offers?When you view a list of packages you will see a special offers field below the title, where we list a particularly attractive part of the offer. This could be introductory months at a lower price, free introductory months, a free wireless router, free laptops, free PS3, or something else. Many of the packages offer several benefits, so it is worth clicking on the package name for more information. When you go from our site to the provider website, or if you come back to the provider website later on after doing your research, make sure you check the terms and conditions as offers may no longer be available. When I view packages, I see triple play, quad play and bundle packs as well as standalone broadband. What are these?Triple and quad play include combinations of broadband, telephone, mobile phone and TV. Bundle packs include more than simply internet broadband on its own. The big players offering three or more products in one bundle are currently Virgin Media, Tiscali and Sky, but you will see increasing numbers of packages that aren’t just standalone broadband but include phone and/or TV too. If you would be buying all of these products anyway these bundled offers can be very good value, as they tend to be cheaper than buying separately. Also many providers have special offers that reduce the cost of bundles even more. Visit our broadband offers page. What if I don't want to make a decision yet?No problem - our information is regularly updated with new products. Who runs UK Broadband Finder?The UK Broadband Finder website has been set up by Sarah Cartland. Sarah has worked in the online industry for several years, editing and producing big name websites including small business website Virgin Biznet, health website bupa.co.uk, and air transport industry site sita.aero. Find out more in About Us. Are you independent?Yes - UK Broadband Finder is independent. We provide information about a range of packages so you can decide which broadband provider or package is right for you, your family or your business. We also provide a broadband checker so you can find out which packages are available in your area. UK Broadband Finder is an affiliate website. Affiliate websites take the hassle out of searching by providing a list of products and services sold on other websites, with information and links. We provide information on UK broadband deals, so you can cut down the number of sites you have to visit to check availability and price. You are not buying from us and we do not charge you any money. If you choose one of our deals and click on the link through to that ISP or provider’s website, and then buy from them, the provider will pay us commission. Where does your information come from?We link to The Broadband Resource at www.samknows.com for data on broadband availability - what broadband packages are available in each area. We also work with broadband providers and affiliate networks to provide you with broadband package and provider information and links to broadband providers. Other information and content on this site has been created by UK Broadband Finder.
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