Broadband in the UK overtakes Dial-Up..

[jordanmcclements]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3667142.stm

[paulhiles]

Very interesting indeed! Although the report does admit the majority of users in the UK are still using dial-up connections. The availibility of broadband is certainly a big factor in its increasing adoption.

More than 91% of the UK has access to a broadband-enabled exchange. The figure is set to surpass 99% by summer 2005.
Another key factor in this growth is the intensive advertising by providers such as Homechoice, who combine fast broadband access with a Video On Demand service.

Paul

[php~pro]

Hi Guys

I personally think broadband is still far too expensive in the UK. It seems to be averaging over double the price for an identicle dial-up plan and for average net users, is just not worth the extra. If a houshold pays out for goodies like sky tv, the mandatory licence and a broaband package this would add to almost 800 hard to earn pounds. For 800 per year I could surely find better things the money on and think its way too expensive for a little surfing pleasure. I personally dont have a problem with dial up. I dont download hefty files so no real need. My internet use is srticly , ftp upload, telnet, and browsing dev forums like this. Broaband is merely a bolt on go faster gizmo for filesharing, and other suspicious activities.

[jordanmcclements]

I think it is not bad now. Wanadoo now do a 1 MBps service for £17.99 per month with a 2GB limit. (Fine unless you are a BIG file swapper / music/video downloader ...

[php~pro]

No good for anyone in web design really. Damn cheap though when you consider the major companies are all 20+. Is it possible to pay extra and get a higher limit? Maybe time to visit wanadoo's site.

[jordanmcclements]

Good point - not so good for web designers who do LARGE amounts of work each month either I suppose.

[php~pro]

I did take a look at the wanadoo site. 27.00 per month for upto 6GB, but what happens when you hit the limit? No warnings they just kill the connection. Looks like I may have to pay my supplier the 25 quid to do my upgrade. BT yahoo is not an option as the last time I tried to sign with them my shiny new pc caught a bug from their sign up pages.

[dntaker]

I have just put in for cancellation to BT Broadband £29.99 per month 512kb!!

I have opted for Wanadoo BroadBand £22.99 per Month 1Mb line.

However when I came to migrate from BT to Wanadoo BT quite happily gave me the Migrate Code, however Wanadoo insisted they cannot migrate from another ISP. However if I was to leave Wanadoo in the future they would be able to migrate me out ????

So they make it easier to leave than to join! This has left me with a 10 day wait (back on Dial Up) before Wanadoo can set up the line which I have had to cease. Are the UK ISP's crazy or what?

[jordanmcclements]

Update on the above.

I have been using Virgin broband for just over a month - 512Kbps/£17.99/month for 3GB download. You pay extra per every GB above that that you use per month, but I have heard that they currently have no way of measuring this..?

Anyway, I have to say that I am not super impressed by them. Their email support is SLOW, and on a couple of occasions - my connection was slower than a 56K dial up! (and apparently they are just a rebadged NTL service, which probably explains the problems)...

Still for 17.99/month I would have to give it 8 out of 10, and you only have to give one month notice if you wish to change providers...

[sem4u]

I have just signed up with Pipex at home for £23.45 a month. The service is capped but the limit is quite high I think. I don't think that the price is high considering BT charge £15.99 a month for a dodgy dial up service.

[jordanmcclements]

Update...

Virging broadband now allow 6GB of download a month for 17.99 UK Pounds. But the download speed is still 512 Kbps...

To be honest, I would rarely use more than 1GB per month..

Does anyone know of any reliable, cheaper service ?

Thanks in advance.

[jordanmcclements]

Updated update...

The 3GB version from Virgin is now £15.99 per month.

[jordanmcclements]

Update:-

Now £14.99 per month...

[jordanmcclements]

21 July 2005:-

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=1665

[MuNKyonline]

We re-sell Pipex broadband at my work. I would recommend that as they're are quite reliable and have good support unlike BT and suchlike.

[carju1]

We re-sell Pipex broadband at my work. I would recommend that as they're are quite reliable and have good support unlike BT and suchlike.

I on the otehr hand have had brilliant support from BT when I had a broadband problem with the engineer coming out 3 times and basically replacing everything from the telegraph pole down to and including my modem in order to fix a problem.

Julian

[jordanmcclements]

carju1 - you are very much in the minority (a satisfied BT customer)....

[bobkom]

I think here in india the govt taking actions to spread the use of internet by decreasing broadband rates here its is only 500rs/- per month and there is installation and starting charges and in india most of the people using dial up connections which bears 6rs/- per hour and the most of the people in cities choosing the broadband and the govt asked vsnl(videsh sanchar nigam limited)to decrease the broadband rates to increase the bpo utilities and to increase the usage of internet and now the govt minister maron launched a pc for for just 9990/-rs http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1188115.cms i think in avery few years india will become one of the most computer using nations

[jordanmcclements]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4749987.stm