Wireless Broadband
The majority of home broadband packages these days will come with the option of including a wireless router in the mix, or, in the case of mobile broadband services, will be completely wireless themselves. Popularity and availability of wireless routers have really taken off in recent years, due to the space efficiency afforded by a wireless home network - no need for extensive ethernet cables trailing up and down the house - improvements in security software and general consumer awareness about encryption and setting up security measures. As mobile phone technology improves, the speed and quality of broadband connections available on mobile broadband products means that use of these services is becoming more and more widespread.
| Provider | Package | Usage | Speed | Download Limit | Setup Cost |
Contract Period | Monthly Cost |
Rating | |
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BT Option 1Online Exclusive Award-winning broadband. Includes wireless BT Home Hub & UK calls. 10GB monthly download cap. More Info » |
Internet browsing and basic emailing |
Up To 8Mbps |
10GBBroadband with an ample monthly usage allowance of 10GB. | FREE | 18 Months | £7.78BT Broadband Option 1 is £7.78 per month for 3 months, £15.65 per month thereafter. Offer includes a Black BT Home Hub 2.0. |
More Info |
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3 Max 24 monthsFree USB modem with 15GB monthly data allowance. More Info » |
Internet use for large households and frequent downloading |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
15GBBroadband with an ample monthly usage allowance of 15GB. | FREE | 24 Months | £15.00The cost of the 3 Mobile USB Modem, comes included in the contract; £30.00 a month for the duration of the 24 month contact. |
More Info
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3 Lite 12 monthsBasic mobile broadband with 1GB usage allowance. More Info » |
Internet browsing and basic emailing |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
1GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 1GB. | £49.99 | 12 Months | £10.00One-off £49.99 fee for the 3 Mobile USB Modem, £10.00 a month for the duration of the 12 month contact. Charges of 10p per MB apply if 1GB allowance is exceeded. |
More Info
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Vodafone 12 Months - 3GBFree high-speed USB modem stick. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 7.2Mbps |
3GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 3GB. | FREE | 12 Months | £15.00£15 a month for 12 months. |
More Info
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BT Option 2Award-winning broadband. Includes wireless BT Home Hub & UK calls. 15GB download cap. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 8Mbps |
15GBBroadband with an ample monthly usage allowance of 15GB. | FREE | 18 Months | £13.96BT Broadband Option 2 costs £13.69 per month for 3 months, £20.54 per month thereafter. Option 2 also comes with the new version BT Home Hub. |
More Info |
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Be ValueStudent Choice 8Mbps Broadband with FREE wireless router & security software. More Info » |
Internet browsing and basic emailing |
Up To 8Mbps |
Unlimited*Broadband with no usage limit, but a fair usage policy does apply. | FREE | 12 Months | £13.50Costs just £13.50 a month, with a £24 connection charge. Optional £2.00 per month email & web space bundle. |
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3 15GB - 18 monthsFree USB modem with 15GB monthly data allowance. More Info » |
Internet use for large households and frequent downloading |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
15GBBroadband with an ample monthly usage allowance of 15GB. | FREE | 18 Months | £20.00The cost of the 3 Mobile USB Modem, comes included in the contract; £30.00 a month for the duration of the 18 month contact. Charges of 10p per MB apply if 15GB allowance is exceeded. |
More Info
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Vodafone 24 Months - 3GBFree high-speed USB modem stick. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 7.2Mbps |
3GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 3GB. | FREE | 24 Months | £10.00£10 a month for the first three months, then £15 a month thereafter (24 month contract). |
More Info
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Vodafone TopUp and Go3.6 Mbps connection speed with Vodafone USB modem. More Info » |
Internet browsing and basic emailing |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
1GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 1GB. | £39.00 | No Contract | £15.00£15 per GB. Annual cost example given above based on a Vodafone customer using the service for 12 months and topping up once a month. |
More Info
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O2 Mobile Broadband - 18 MonthsEditor's Choice Free USB Modem & access to 6,100 Wi-Fi hotspots. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 7.2Mbps |
3GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 3GB. | FREE | 18 Months | £14.69£14.69 a month on an 18 Month contract. Excessive Use policy applies to Unlimited Wi-Fi. |
More Info
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Madasafish MAX8Mbps broadband with FREE wireless router. More Info » |
Internet browsing and basic emailing |
Up To 8Mbps |
5GBBroadband with an average monthly usage allowance of 5GB. | FREE | 12 Months | £9.65Cost £9.65 a month for the first 6 months, £14.65 a month thereafter. |
More Info
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3 5GB -18 monthsFree compact & stylish mobile USB stick. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
5GBBroadband with an average monthly usage allowance of 5GB. | FREE | 18 Months | £15.00The cost of the 3 Mobile USB Modem, comes included in the contract; £15.00 a month for the duration of the 18 month contact. Charges of 10p per MB apply if 5GB allowance is exceeded. |
More Info
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Vodafone 18 Months - 3GBFree high-speed USB modem stick. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 7.2Mbps |
3GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 3GB. | FREE | 18 Months | £15.00£15 a month for 12 months. |
More Info
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Madasafish MAX Premier8Mbps broadband with FREE wireless router. More Info » |
Internet use for large households and frequent downloading |
Up To 8Mbps |
50GBBroadband with a huge monthly usage allowance of 50GB. | FREE | 12 Months | £25.35Costs £25.35 per month first 6 months, £29.35 per month thereafter. FREE ADSL2+ wireless router, and FREE connection. |
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Madasafish MAX Plus8Mbps broadband with FREE wireless router. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 8Mbps |
20GBBroadband with a large monthly usage allowance of 20GB. | FREE | 12 Months | £19.45Cost £19.45 per month first 6 months, £25.45 per month thereafter. FREE ADSL2+ wireless router, and no charge for connection. |
More Info
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3 Lite 18 monthsFree mobile USB modem stick. More Info » |
Internet browsing and basic emailing |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
1GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 1GB. | FREE | 18 Months | £10.00The cost of the 3 Mobile USB Modem, comes included in the contract; £10.00 a month for the duration of the 18 month contact. Charges of 10p per MB apply if 1GB allowance is exceeded. |
More Info
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3 15GB - 12 monthsFree USB modem with 7GB monthly data allowance. More Info » |
Internet use for large households and frequent downloading |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
15GBBroadband with an ample monthly usage allowance of 15GB. | FREE | 12 Months | £25.00The cost of the 3 Mobile USB Modem, comes included in the contract; £25.00 a month for the duration of this 12 month contact. Charges of 10p per MB apply if 7GB allowance is exceeded. |
More Info
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3 5GB - 12 monthsFree compact mobile USB stick. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
3GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 3GB. | FREE | 12 Months | £15.00The cost of the 3 Mobile USB Modem, comes included in the contract; £15.00 a month for the duration of the 12 month contact. Charges of 10p per MB apply if 3GB allowance is exceeded. |
More Info
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3 Lite 24 monthsFree mobile USB modem stick. More Info » |
Internet browsing and basic emailing |
Up To 3.6Mbps |
1GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 1GB. | FREE | 24 Months | £10.00The cost of the 3 Mobile USB Modem, comes included in the contract; £10.00 a month for the duration of this 24 month contact. Charges of 10p per MB apply if 1GB allowance is exceeded. |
More Info
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O2 Mobile Broadband - 1 Month1 month flexible contract & access to 6,100 Wi-Fi hotspots. More Info » |
Internet browsing, emailing and occasional downloading |
Up To 7.2Mbps |
3GBBroadband with a monthly usage allowance of 3GB. | £29.35 | 1 Month | £14.69£14.69 a month on a rolling month by month contract with an initial one-off set up fee of £29.35. Charges of £0.19p per additional MB apply if 3GB allowance is exceeded. |
More Info
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Wireless Broadband Explained
Wireless broadband routers in the home are fairly ubiquitous these days compared to the advent of broadband services in the UK a few years ago. Take up of wireless equipment in the home has soared thanks to increased demand for wireless equipment such as the BT Home Hub and the Orange Livebox, and the space efficiency such pieces of equipment afford broadband customers.
Thanks to an absence of wires and a greater consumer understanding of security software and issues related to wireless connections and to surfing the internet in general, take up of wireless routers and wireless equipment in the UK has soared. Encryption and securing your SSID (Service Set Identifier - a code similar to a PIN number) is as important as choosing the best broadband deal for you and correctly positioning your wireless router in the home (as centrally as possible, and away from any mirrors or large metallic objects.
Mobile broadband has also take off in recent years, with sales driven by laptop deals and improvements in mobile phone coverage and connection quality. Investment from the UK's mobile phone networks is due to see mobile broadband connections improve dramatically over the next few years in terms of speed and reliability, as well as in terms of how much information can be downloaded over a mobile broadband link.
As part of the recent Government report on Digital Britain, an approximate roadmap for the future of the UK's broadband infrastructure, it is widely thought that advances in mobile broadband will be an integral part of planning a nationwide broadband network ensuring that every household in the UK will be able to enjoy and make use of reliable broadband services by 2012.





