Broadband ISP UK

Broadband ISP UK

What is ISP? ISP is short for Internet Service Provider.

Here, we are talking about broadband Internet access. So, you can regard broadband ISP as broadband provider, it's all the same. ISP is a formal name.

Do you concern for the brand when you buy something? If so, do you think the broadband ISP - or we say broadband provider - important when you are choosing broadband deals? I think you will. So, let's learn more about broadband ISPs and later chapter will introduce more about each broadband ISP in UK market.

What different between different broadband ISPs? Maybe different service level, different policy or even different broadband type. Prices are also different level with different brand. It's not strange if you see comparable broadband deals have big disparity in price. Some brands have good reputation and customers feedback, based on their high service level all the time. They can be more trustable, but higher cost. What do you choose?

And, as you may have know, there are two types of broadband: ADSL broadband and Cable broadband. Only a few ISPs provide cable broadband in UK, for example Virgin Media. There is no verdict that which type is better. But ADSL is surely more popular, as the installation is more simple.

Now, on our web site, we collect information from 15 major broadband providers. Listed below:

• AOL Broadband

• BT Broadband

• Tiscali Broadband

• Pipex Broadband

• Orange Broadband

• Virgin Media broadband

• Be Broadband

• TalkTalk Broadband

• Eclipse Broadband

• Madasafish broadband

• PlusNet broadband

• Demon broadband

• NamesCo broadband

• Seriously broadband

• Sky broadband

Click ISP's names if you want to learn more about them and their deals.

Here is some detail information about these broadband ISPs and their broadband products.

BT Broadband

BT Wholesale provides wholesale ADSL broadband products to hundreds of ISP's, some directly and some indirectly. ISP’s purchasing direct from BT Wholesale will have a “BT Central” pipe in to BT. ISP’s purchasing indirectlywill purchase from a reseller, who will in turn have a BT Central. The BT Wholesale products are known as IP Stream and DataStream.

Here are some broadband ISPs that use BT ADSL services: Demon broadband, AOL broadband, Tiscali broadband, Pipex broadband, PlusNet broadband, Zen broadband, Eclipse broadband, Orange broadband and so on.

AOL Broadband

AOL broadband is one of the broadband ISPs that provide broadband service over two networks. It provide service over its own national broadband network, as well as BT Wholesale's national ADSL network. In those regions AOL has its own national network, they provide broadband service through its own network. But in some region AOL doesn't have its own network, it provide broadband service through BT national ADSL network.

So, you may notice that it's not a single price for deals of AOL broadband. The price shown in big number is the price over their own network. In the regions that AOL network doesn't cover, and the price is higher.

Virgin Media, NTL, Telewest Broadband

NTL and telewest became one company in 2005. Then at the beginning of this year, NTL:Telewest change its name to "Virgin Media Inc".

The company now dominate the UK cable television market. As it have cable networks in the Uk, Virgin Media is one of the few providers who offer cable broadband services. Cable broadband service is run over the cable network which previously belongs to the union of NTL's and Telewest's.

Virgin Media Broadband also offer broadband products over BT ADSL network. And one thing to notice is, the two different broadband services are provided in different prices.

Be* Broadband

Be Un Limited use their own ADSL2+ broadband network. Be now offer the fastest broadband product in the UK market, up to 24Mbps. It's three times the speed of normal broadband product (with a speed of 8Mbps).

TalkTalk Broadband

TalkTalk is a brand runned by Carphone Warehouse. Talktalk broadband uses CPW's own ADSL network.

If you are lucky in those areas that CPW has unbundled exchanges, then you are able to receive 8Mbps free broadband product. It's attractive, isn't it?

However, users who are not in the areas the carphonewarehouse has exchanges or CPW targeted exchanges will have to pay £15 for broadband access monthly.

Sky Broadband

Sky Broadband also offer free broadband to people who purchase SKY satellite TV service. But the free broadband product is only provided to the areas that Sky TV have coverage.

For those areas not covered by Sky, they offer broadband packages over BT Wholesale’s network. A 16Mbps product is also available, but only on exchanges that Sky has unbundled.

Easynet Broadband

Easynet has been purchased by SKY in 2005, and part of the SKY broadband service is also provided through easynet LLU network.

Pipex Broadband

Pipex mainly use the BT network to offer broadband product and service.

It's reported that Pipex have started to construct its own exchanges. It has begun to offer broadband product through these exchanges. But unlike AOL broadband, the broadband through Pipex's own exchanges and network and BT ADSL broadband network is the same in price currently.

Tiscali Broadband

In order to save cost, Tiscali runs a LLU network of its own. In spite of its own broadband service, Tiscali also offer the wholesale broadband services to some other ISPs, such as the PlusNet Broadband we'll refer to later.

Tiscali offer a 1 Mbps broadband deal which is only 7.99 pounds a month. For those light broadband user, it's really a good choice.

PlusNet Broadband

Plusnet broadband also uses the broadband network and exchanged run by Tiscali broadband.

Orange Broadband

ANother ISP that provide free broadband is Orange Broadband. If you sign an 18 month mobile contract of £30 or more, you can get the Orange broadband for free!

Someone may feel this free broadband deal is not so satisfying as the speed of the free deal is only 2Mbps. And, we have a good news and bad news about this free deal. The good news is you can upgrade this deal to 8Mbps. The bad news is the upgrading cost you £5 per month.

Another piece of good news for customers is whereever you are, either in the areas Orange have unbundled exchanges, or in the areas Orange doesn't have and use BT broadband network, you can get this free deal all the same. There is no difference if the exchange in your area is unbundled or not. This policy is surely better than Sky Broadband and TalkTalk Broadband.

Important Notice

Many providers use both exchenges from their own and BT wholesale service, like Pipex Broadband and Tiscali Broadband. They will use their own exchanges in default where available. But what you - customers - need to care about is whether they offer products in the same price in the areas having their own exchanges and in the areas use BT broadband service.

Our broadband check can't show you if you are in the areas a certain provider has its own exchanges. So, If you prefer a deal from such kind of providers, and the price for the areas with its own exchanges and the areas use BT service are different, call that providers to check for details.