I have a full fibre service from BT ... installed a year ago, it just works, gives a consistent 150Mbs down and 30Mbs up (much faster speeds up to 900Mbs available from BT at my location if I needed it) and is complete with a mesh router system which gives excellent wifi across the whole house and garden. Not everywhere currently has access to a full fibre network ... one of the benefits of an urban address!
I have no experience of Now Broadband. However I am a customer of Now TV which I find to be very good. I understand that Now Broadband is the budget offering from the Sky group in the same way that Plusnet is the budget offering from the BT group.
As stated above there are 2 widely available networks (Openreach and Virgin Media) and a number of areas also have other networks available. I would suggest a look at the OFCOM broadband checker will advise the networks available at your location and it will then give a link to a list of companies offering a service over the Openreach network and the speeds / types of service available if that's required.
A few of things may be worth bearing in mind ...
- not all companies offer the same speeds or services even if they use the same network. Compare services well to ensure that things that are important to you are best served.
- most companies offer rates to entice new customers ... and often will adjust rates to retain leaving customers!
- the copper wire network is being replaced over the next 5 years and all services that come over copper wires will be replaced with a digital equivalent. This includes telephone lines (which will be converted to run on your fibre broadband connection), ADSL broadband and the fibre to the cabinet service. As individual areas are upgraded these services will be withdrawn from being offered and this already applies in some areas.
- 4g or satellite broadband (such as Starlink) may well be a better offering in more rural areas.
- Openreach runs and maintains the main telephone network up to the termination point in your property and they also have a broadband checker which will advise on the types of service and speeds available at a given address. Retail companies put their own equipment into the telephone exchanges to give their service over the network and it is them who supply you. Openreach is not BT although it is owned by them. Its relationship with BT Retail is very strictly laid down in legislation and this is closely monitored to ensure that Openreach's dealings with BT Retail are no different to those of any other company.
- speak to enough people and you will hear bad experiences of every company ... people writing reviews usually have an axe to grind!
I actually use the internet more when I am out working than when at home. I am forever downloading various maps, documents and emails when I am on site, so for me, fast mobile broadband is more important. My current broadband at home is 35mb/s, which is more than fast enough for me. I cannot wait for more widespread 5G coverage, when it does I will probably ditch cable broadband altogether and just use mobile.
More 5G? I’m hoping for more 3G ! Never seen 5G. There are areas (all over, I’m sure, not just rural mountainous Scotland) where there’s only the basis mobile signal, not enough to download the photos off the BBC news app when we’re away or send an email with attachments. Thankfully Tesco etc has Wi-fi & they don’t mind when one of us sits down to research the next leg of the trip while the other one gets the milk & Gin.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: broadband
via mobile 03/9/2021 at 7:20pm
