Find broadband packages for April

What is a broadband package?

A broadband package, sometimes called a bundle, combines broadband with other services such as TV, landline and mobile phone deals. Broadband providers used to only supply homes with standard broadband and phone deals, but now more and more internet providers are offering add-ons to make better deals on popular household services such as TV and mobile contracts.

The advantage of getting all your home services from the same provider is that you can easily manage your bills from one account, and it can also help you save money. Compare broadband deals in the UK using our tool. There are always great deals out there, no matter what type of package you’re after.

Broadband packages UK

In this section, we’ll take you through the different types of broadband package available in the UK, starting with:

Broadband-only packages

Standard broadband often comes with line rental, which is ideal if you’re a frequent caller. Certain broadband providers offer free calls if you buy into a broadband deal with a phone line. While having a fixed line might be of no use to you, it’s often a requirement, as many broadband providers supply your home with internet via the Openreach network.

Get a broadband-only deal if you just want stand-alone broadband. This means that a provider will supply your home with an internet connection with no additional services. That said, most internet-service providers require you to have a landline and pay for line rental to access the internet. If you’re looking for a standard broadband connection without the need for a fixed line, the following providers offer it:

• BT
• EE
• Virgin Media
• Gigaclear

Providers may advertise a deal as being broadband-only even if it includes a phone line, particularly if the provider uses the Openreach network. BT, EE, and Virgin Media offer broadband-only deals without the need to pay for line rental. These deals include:

Unlimited phone calls and broadband packages

When you get a broadband and phone package, a provider supplies your home with broadband and phone services. With this package, you’ll need to choose your internet speeds and calls allowance. Depending on the provider, you could get inclusive calls at certain times of the day, but most will offer a default package where you only pay for calls you make. This will be more convenient if you’re not a frequent caller or if you don’t want a phone service. If you make calls on a daily basis, it might be cheaper to opt for a package offering inclusive calls.

Keep in mind that calling internationally will always be more costly than calling within the UK, so if you’ve got family and friends abroad, inquire about the provider’s international rates. You’ll need to choose a package that meets your internet and phone needs. The best broadband and phone packages in the UK are offered by the following broadband providers:

• BT
• Sky
• Hyperoptic
• Plusnet
• NOW Broadband
• TalkTalk
• Virgin Media
• Vodafone
• EE
• KCOM
• iTalk
• Shell Energy

There are plenty of broadband providers offering broadband and phone deals, but the best plans should combine fibre broadband with line rental for a good price. The following providers offer competitive broadband and phone packages:

All the deals above come on a pay-as-you-go tariff. If you’re interested in inclusive calls and texts, these deals are available as part of a bundle with NOW TV, Virgin Media, and a few others.

Broadband and TV packages

A broadband and TV deal is one where a provider supplies your home with broadband and TV services. Depending on what the provider is offering, TV add-ons could include top entertainment programmes, films and sports packages. Here are some providers offering broadband and TV packages:

• Sky
• BT
• TalkTalk
• NOW
• EE

Many providers offer TV and broadband packages, so you can get all of your favourite channels live and on-demand. Each provider offers access to different TV add-ons and streaming apps, so be sure to ask them if they’re offering the channels you want access to. Here are some of the most popular broadband and TV bundles:

Broadband, phone and TV packages

Deals that include three or more services are often referred to as bundles. Getting your broadband, phone and TV services from the same provider can be cheaper than buying each service individually. Providers with market-leading triple-play service include:

• Virgin Media
• TalkTalk
• NOW
• EE
• Sky
• BT

Some providers, such as Virgin Media, also offer bundles that include mobile deals as well, though Virgin now outsources this feature to O2. If you’re looking to group all these services into one monthly payment, this would be a good option for you. It will add to the monthly cost of your deal, but may be cheaper than paying for each service individually.

This said, it’s important to compare deals before getting a bundle, as price is not the only factor to consider. Contract length, suitability of phone and TV services, as well as broadband speed in your area are equally important.

Types of broadband connection

ADSL

ADSL broadband, or standard broadband, is the most basic type of internet connection. ADSL supplies homes with internet via copper cables, offering the slowest broadband speeds available. This type of broadband deal will be sufficient if you live alone and only use the internet for tasks such as browsing and emailing.

ADSL can only achieve download speeds of about 10Mbps and upload speeds of no more than 1.5Mbps. While standard broadband will still be adequate for some households, broadband providers are focusing more on supplying homes with faster download speeds with the help of fibre broadband.

Fibre broadband

Fibre broadband provides an internet connection through the use of fibre-optic cables. Superfast broadband speeds start at about 30Mbps, which is three times faster than standard broadband. There are two types of fibre broadband:

Fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC)

An FTTC connection provides quicker speeds than ADSL while still being affordable, which makes it a popular choice with broadband customers. FTTC combines fibre-optic and copper cables and can achieve average download speeds of up to 70Mbps and average upload speeds of about 15Mbps.

Full fibre or Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP)

FTTP, commonly known as full-fibre broadband, provides high-speed internet with the potential of achieving average download speeds of 1,000Mbps. Full-fibre internet runs solely on fibre-optic cables, whereas FTTC runs on a mixture of two cables. Full-fibre average speeds can reach anywhere up to 1,000Mbps (equivalent to 1Gbps) depending on the deal you choose. While not all providers offer deals with the maximum download speeds available in the UK, some suppliers specialise in this type of fibre-broadband deal.

For a gigabit FTTP internet connection, take a look at the following providers:

• Virgin Media
• Gigaclear
• Hyperoptic
• Zen Internet
• Fibrus
• Community Fibre
• KCOM
• WightFibre

Be aware that if you’ve taken out a gigabit broadband deal, you probably won’t experience the maximum average speeds using WiFi. WiFi is less reliable than an ethernet connection and tends to slow your average speeds down. If you want to get the most out of your connection, use an ethernet cable.

Cable broadband

Cable broadband average speeds sit somewhere between FTTC and FTTP broadband. Cable broadband uses coaxial cables instead of copper ones, providing average download speeds that range between 36 and about 500Mbps. Virgin Media is the only major broadband provider offering a cable broadband service, with most going the way of fibre broadband.

Wireless broadband (WiFi)

A wireless connection, also referred to as WiFi, can transmit information via radio waves from your router without the need for a cable. Most homes use wireless broadband to connect devices to the router but, for a more stable connection, you can use an ethernet cable.

An ethernet connection isn’t as convenient but can maximise your average speeds and guarantee less interruptions. It’s not uncommon to experience internet issues due to WiFi, as it can be cut-off by obstructions in the home between your router and your device. If you’re having internet issues, try using an ethernet cable to regulate it.

Is it better to get Broadband with TV add-ons?

Some providers offer the option of adding TV to your broadband deal at a reduced price. Becoming a pay-TV customer with the same provider has certain benefits:

• It’s often more affordable, thanks to occasional discounts when you have a subscription for more than one service.
• New customers sometimes get freebies, vouchers and free smart gadgets.

Before purchasing broadband with TV add-ons, there are a few important points to consider:

How much TV do you watch?

If you just stream TV from apps such as Netflix and Prime Video, adding TV to your broadband may not save you much. TV add-ons usually offer a certain number of Freeview channels as standard and charge you for extras such as premium entertainment channels, films and sport. They don’t often provide memberships to streaming apps, though some do offer trials to streaming services as perks.

Do you mind being restricted to fewer providers?

There are only a few providers offering broadband and TV bundles, so you’ll have less options to choose from. It usually means limiting yourself to major providers such as Sky, Virgin Media and BT.

Are you happy to commit to a long-term contract?

These packages usually have 18-month or 24-month minimum terms, so, if you want to switch providers, you could end up facing a termination fee for leaving your contract early.

Choose a standard broadband plan or opt to add extra services such as TV, phone and mobile contracts. Broadband packages will vary from provider to provider, as they all specialise in different services and broadband deals.