Which broadband provider can i use

Signing up for a new broadband deal can be quite the commitment, with contracts running for up to two years. Although you have certain rights to cancel, you could end up with large cancellation fees, so it's better to choose the right broadband from the start.

If you only need a basic speed connection and your home is close to a telephone exchange, it makes sense to simply compare broadband deals in your area and go for the most cost-effective one. But ask yourself a few questions first: are you likely to move home before the contract is up?

Do you need a faster connection? Are you in a rural area where standard ADSL broadband is very slow? Broadband providers are only allowed to tie you in for a maximum of 24 months, but two years is still a significant contract length. While most contracts are 12 or 18 months, there are short-term and no contract options available that could better suit your needs.

Broadband contracts with no download limit are widely available, but lots of the cheapest deals limit the amount you can download. For more information, check out our guide to TV services to see exactly what each provider has to offer. The packages you can get depend entirely on where you live. Some providers, like BT, have a very wide footprint, while others like Virgin Media are available in fewer areas. There are also some companies like Relish that only operate in specific areas.

Fortunately, there's a way to see the providers and deals that are available in your specific location - use our postcode checker and we'll show you. Yes, it really is that easy. Price is important - you need to pick what you can afford after all. That said, judging a deal purely on price is potentially a big ol' blunder.

It's much more important that your internet connection is stable, and supports the activity of everyone in your house, so you should discount any deal that doesn't meet those needs.

For example, picking the cheapest package possible may seem a good idea, but if you have a family you may be frustrated by the insufficient speed, or have to keep paying for extra data.

So make sure you look at features first, then compare to find the package that suits you that has the best price. We find deals from all the top providers. View filters. Our best picks are deals we highlight as having particularly strong special offers or are sponsored listings. To compare a wider list of packages, sorted according to your chosen criteria, you can enter your postcode in the box above.

Speed Your broadband speed determines how fast web pages load, files are downloaded, the time streaming video takes to buffer, and more. For a big household, or one where you stream lots of video or play games, a fast speed is recommended. Contract length. Featured deal Our featured deal is either a sponsored ad or a deal we strongly recommend. You will receive your voucher claim email days after your date of activation. You will then have 90 days to claim it.

Unlimited downloads. Pay as you go. More Details More Details. Visit now. Half Price TV. You'll then have 90 days to claim it. New customers only Valid for new TalkTalk customers only. Call TalkTalk: Online exclusive Unlimited Fibre Broadband without landline New customers only Not available to customers who have had EE home broadband contracts in the past 12 months.

No Phoneline. New customers only Not available to customers who have had EE home broadband contracts in the past 12 months. Call EE: Choose the payment method to suit your circumstances. You will receive your voucher claim email days after your activation date. New customers only Not available to customers who have had Virgin Media Broadband contracts in the past 12 months. Call Virgin Media: Unlimited free access to over 5 million UK wi-fi hotspots.

Once your service is active, you've got three months to claim your gift card by visiting bt. It will arrive within 45 days. In contrast, you may have services on your package that you no longer need, such as paid TV subscription or landline calls.

With the boom in online streaming services and unlimited minutes on your mobiles, you might find that you hardly use them any more. See cheap broadband deals near you. In much the same way that you would transfer your mobile number over when you switch to a new contract, your current home broadband provider should allow you to keep your landline number when you move to a new provider, as per Ofcom regulations.

Here's a guide on how to contact your broadband provider if you'd like to get in touch with its customer service team swiftly.

The popularity of free email services like Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo has grown significantly in recent years. The option to keep access to your email address, unfortunately, depends entirely on your provider. For the most part, providers tend to leave email accounts alone, but it would be a good idea to check with your current provider about this before you switch. Get more information on how to keep your email address when you switch internet provider with our dedicated guide.

But that doesn't mean you'll be offline for two whole weeks while the switch is prepared. You should only expect to spend roughly 30 minutes offline while the switch actually takes place. But if your new connection needs an engineer visit, it may be a little longer while they install it for you. Some providers can take up to six weeks to organise an installation, while others can get you set up in less than a week. Additionally, when cancelling with your current provider, you're usually required to give 30 days' notice, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Reason being, your new set-up may need to be physically installed and your downtime during the switch may last a couple of hours. The process is still an easy one, though.

In most cases, the process of switching providers is seamless. Plus, they can do almost all the legwork for you, including cancelling your current broadband contract.

Much faster networks are growing rapidly across the country, so you might have access to a ultrafast, or even gigabit, broadband speeds. If you enter your postcode into our postcode checker you'll be able to see search results for the best broadband in my area. Broadband in my area. Does your household really need superfast broadband speeds over Mbps?

Do you want to bundle digital TV in with your broadband and landline? And for that matter, do you actually need a landline? There are plenty of options out there, and the best broadband package is going to be the one that suits you. This process is typically handled entirely by your new provider from this point on.

They will cancel your contract with your old provider and set up the new start date for your contract.