March 2015 saw average download speeds recorded by users of our Broadband Speed Test drop slightly by 0.32Mb in comparison to the results from February, coming in at 21.11Mb. Average upload speeds remained stable at 4.22Mb.
Virgin Media's average download speeds dropped by a further 1.29Mb to 39.69Mb, with upload speeds remaining stable at 5.34Mb. BT Broadband hold second place with average download and upload speeds remaining stable at 19.85Mb and 5.81Mb. Plusnet remain in third place, with download speeds taking a 1.15Mb hit down to 14.59Mb with a 0.29Mb increase to 5.08Mb for average upload speeds. TalkTalk stay in fourth place, with download speeds increasing by 0.78Mb to 14.26Mb and upload speeds holding stable at 1.76Mb. Finally, Sky are in fifth place with a 0.57Mb decrease to download speeds, putting them at 12.8Mb, with upload speeds falling slightly to 3.24Mb.
While Internet Service Providers try to make switching broadband as easy and smooth as possible, the current system has become outdated and complicates matters for many customers. Originally, MAC migration codes were designed to standardise the process for all broadband switches, but they don't apply when you're also moving your line rental and phone service to the new provider. These days most providers now have their own equipment in your local telephone exchange, and most require you to take their telephone services bundled in with your broadband, so MAC codes aren't needed. Once you've switched to one of these providers the system to switch back changes again. It can get quite confusing and frustrating trying to switch between providers.
Sometimes, due to differences in technology and systems being used, you may find you have to cancel your entire service with one provider before you can switch to a new one with someone else. This is known as 'cease and reprovide', and can result in downtime and unexpected extra charges for both disconnection and new line activation, as well as possibly causing you to lose your telephone number in the process. The threat of losing your phone number can lead people to feel trapped with their current provider. Putting up with high prices or poor service may be seen as a better option than the stress and inconvenience of changing phone numbers.
The good news is that Ofcom have announced new regulations which are due to come into effect late June of this year, which will mean that all home broaband providers will be switching to the new Gaining Provider Led system. This will greatly simplify the process for customers, improving consistency across providers and making the process easier regardless of the type of broadband service you've chosen. From the 20th of June, customers will only have to contact the supplier they want to switch to, they will no longer need to ask their existing provider for a MAC code. Once this is done, the old provider will be required to provide a letter as a formal notification of the service ending, informing the customer of any final charges (such as for broadband usage or phone calls not yet paid for) that may apply.
The new system should also mean that the majority of people switching broadband and phone should be able to do so without losing their number, and all services should be transferred at the same time to ensure a minimal loss of service. As long as the service will be provided over the same telephone line, you shouldn't have to worry about these. However, if you're moving from, for example, a Virgin Media cable broadband service with a totally independent cable telephone line to a service that runs over BT telephone lines, you will still need to cease this cable service and ask for your new provider to either activate your old BT line or install a new one. In this case, every effort should still be taken to ensure you get to keep your phone number.
This new system won't come into force until the 20th of June, but is something that you need to be aware of if you're planning to switch providers. Ofcom provide a guide to the process of switching broadband providers which will be kept up to date as the new regulations comeinto force.
February 2015 saw average download speeds recorded by users of our Broadband Speed Test drop by 0.48Mb in comparison to the results from January, coming in at 21.43Mb. Average upload speeds saw a 0.23Mb increase to 4.32Mb.
Virgin Media's average download speeds dropped again by 0.63Mb to 40.98Mb, with upload speeds remaining stable at 5.5Mb. BT Broadband remain second place with average download speeds dropping by 0.53Mb to 19.87Mb, though upload speeds increased by 0.29Mb to 5.97Mb. Plusnet hold third place, remaining stable at 15.74Mb for average download speeds with a 0.38Mb increase to 4.78Mb for average upload speeds. TalkTalk are also stable in fourth place, with download speeds at 13.22Mb and upload speeds at 1.75Mb. Finally, Sky are in fifth place with a strong 1.34Mb increase to download speeds, putting them at 13.37Mb, with upload speeds increased by 0.49Mb to 3.44Mb.
January 2015 saw average download speeds recorded by users of our Broadband Speed Test drop by 0.75Mb in comparison to the results from December, coming in at 21.91Mb. Average upload speeds remained stable at 4.09Mb.
Virgin Media's average download speeds have fallen by 1.95Mb over last month to 41.61Mb, with upload speeds remaining stable at 5.45Mb. BT Broadband hold second place with average download and upload speeds remaining stable at 20.35Mb and 5.68Mb respectively. Plusnet are in third place, remaining stable after the significant drop in speeds last month at 14.58Mb for average download speeds and 4.41Mb for average upload speeds. TalkTalk remain in fourth place, with speeds increasing by 0.64Mb to 13.22Mb and upload speeds remaining stable at 1.88Mb. Finally, Sky are in fifth place with 12.03Mb download speeds, comparable to their speeds from last month.
December 2014 saw average download speeds recorded by users of our Broadband Speed Test rise by 0.43Mb in comparison to the results from November, coming in at 22.65Mb. Average upload speeds remained stable at 4.01Mb.
Virgin Media's average download speeds have increased by 1.42Mb over last month to 43.56Mb, with upload speeds rising a little to 5.42Mb. BT Broadband remain in second place with average download speeds of 20.6Mb (increasing by 0.37Mb over last month) and upload speeds of 5.82Mb. Plusnet remain in third place, but with a significant 3.93Mb drop to 14.53Mb for average download speeds, and a 1.56Mb decrease to 4.04Mb for average upload speeds. TalkTalk move up to fourth place, with speeds increasing by 0.33Mb to 12.57Mb and upload speeds remaining stable at 1.71Mb. Sky drop down to fifth place with 12.15Mb download speeds, a small 0.36Mb decrease in speed since last month.
Great news for TalkTalk TV customers! Netflix is the world's largest internet TV network, and it will be available on YouView early in the new year!
Netflix has a huge selection of popular movies and TV boxsets to choose from, with new titles being added all the time. With TV series such as Orange is the New Black, Breaking Bad, House of Cards and The Originals, movies including Skyfall, The Hobbit and The Hunger Games, and a great choice of kids' programming, you're guaranteed to find something to entertain you and your family.
Existing TalkTalk TV customers can pre-register for Netflix here, and if you're interested in signing up for a TalkTalk package, keep reading!
In addition to this, TalkTalk have some fantastic offers right now, including a free £50 Love2Shop voucher on all deals!
Minimum contract 18 months. Love2Shop vouchers only available to switching customers ordering online. Fibre deals only available in fibre-enabled areas - use our postcode checker to find out if you can get fibre in your area. Line rental required at £16.70 a month, or £180.36 for a year up front. £5 delivery fee for the router.
With the rise in popularity of online gaming and video streaming, demand is high for faster broadband, and speedy connections are vital. Fibre broadband is the solution, and it's steadily becoming available to more and more areas of the UK. However, Fibre deals aren't always the cheapest around, and while it's worth spending more on a better broadband connection, most people still want a good deal that saves them money.
Well, Sky have you covered, and have introduced a package that's one of the best value Fibre broadband deal in the UK. For only £10 a month, you'll get download speeds of up to 38Mb and upload speeds of 9.5Mb, free weekend calls and a download allowance of 25GB a month. This package should suit the needs of the average broadband user.
Have a larger family, live in shared housing, or just need an unlimited download allowance? Don't worry, Sky have you covered there, too. For £20 a month, you can enjoy the same speeds and not have to worry about going over a monthly allowance.
Sky's Fibre deals also come with a free Sky Hub router, Sky Broadband Shield internet protection, and free Sky WiFi, which allows you to wirelessly connect to the internet in over 20,000 locations around the UK.
Deals only available in fibre-enabled areas - use our postcode checker to find out if you can get fibre in your area. Speeds will vary depending on location and distance from your street cabinet. 18 month minimum contract. Line rental required at £16.40 a month. Up front £30 activation fee and £6.95 delivery fee for the router.
November 2014 saw average download speeds recorded by users of our Broadband Speed Test drop 0.62Mb in comparison to the results from October, coming in at 22.23Mb. Average upload speeds remained stable at 3.94Mb.
Virgin Media's average download speeds have decreased by 2.65Mb over last month to 42.14Mb, with upload speeds dropping a little to 5.32Mb. BT Broadband remain in second place with download speeds averaging at 20.23Mb (a drop of 0.69Mb over last month) and upload speeds of 5.23Mb. Plusnet holds third place with a minor 0.23Mb decrease to 18.46b for average download speeds, but a 0.72Mb increase to 5.6Mb for average upload speeds. Sky came in fourth place with 12.5Mb download speeds, a small decrease in speed since last month. Meanwhile, TalkTalk remain in fifth place, but are the only ISP in the top five to see an increase in download speeds, going up by 1.38Mb to 12.24Mb with upload speeds remaining stable at 1.52Mb.
It's the battle of the broadband brands as several ISPs compete to offer the biggest and best discounts and rewards over the Black Friday / Cyber Monday long weekend! Check out the offers where you live using our availability checker, or browse the list of sale promotions below. But hurry, these offers are for one long weekend only and expire at midnight on Monday the 1st of December!
Just take a 12 month contract and pay for line rental and router delivery and your first year of Plusnet up to 17Mb truly unlimited broadband is FREE. What's more you get £75 cashback meaning you actually make back £69 over the first year! Unlike some of the offers below, this one's available regardless of where you live, not just in low cost areas!
If you're new to Sky, when you sign up for a TV bundle now you get up to half price Sky TV for a year plus your choice of reward from one of £100 of Amazon or M&S vouchers, a Samsung Galaxy Tab or a Spaced360 bluetooth speaker worth £250 RRP!
What's more, if you add Sky Movies to your bundle, you'll get the upgrade for 6 months half price and you'll also qualify for 12 month free truly unlimited broadband!
New BT customers can nab truly unlimited broadband for only £5 per month for up to 17Mb phoneline broadband and £10 a month for upto 38Mb BT Infinity fibre! Prices go up after a year, but they're on a special 12 month contract so you're free to switch.
No only that but you'll get Sainsbury's gift cards - £50 worth for phoneline and £100 worth for Infinity - that can be spent in Sainsbury's stores or online!
Sign up for any of Virgin Media's Big Bundles of cable TV, fibre optic broadband and telephone calling over this long weekend and get 12 months reduced price, 6 month of free Netflix - even if you already have a subscription - and a reward ranging from £50 to £100 of account credit.
Big Bundles come with Virgin Media's TiVo box that can record 3 channels while watching another already recorded!
Meanwhile there are also competitive ongoing offers from TalkTalk, Fuel, Tesco, EE and Hyperoptic meaning it's still worth comparing broadband to see if there's a better offer where you live or for your particular needs.
Offers only available to new customers ordering online and may only apply to particular bundles and contract lengths. Line rental required for all offers, see provider site for details. Rewards and cashback may need to be applied for separately once you're connected to the service. Offer prices are introductory and may rise after the offer period expires. Delivery and installation fees may apply. Broadband speed, availability and pricing can depend on where you live and how far you are from your telephone exchange or fibre street cabinet. Some offers only available if you live in the provider's low cost network area. Full details of restrictions should be provided before you sign up.
With the new university year just around the corner, it's time for students - both new and returning - to start considering getting a broadband connection set up in their new accommodation. As so much of university life depends on the internet these days - from registering for courses, researching and submitting course work, to arranging social activities and unwinding at the weekends - you're going to be wanting decent and reliable access to the internet with a broadband package that takes into account budget, the need for a shorter-length contract, and what you as a student want out of your broadband experience.
Whether you're looking for broadband only, mobile broadband, a TV deal, or want a package ideal for gaming, our guide will help you decide what's best for you.
Plusnet Unlimited - 12 months FREE broadband and £75 cashback!
Sky TV Bundles - Reward of your choice worth up to £250 and up to half price Sky TV for a year!
BT Broadband - 12 months better than half price truly unlimited broadband + Sainsbury's gift cards!
Virgin Media Big Bundles - 12 months reduced price, 6 months free Netflix and up to £100 reward!