why use a UK Broadband Broker?
A Broadband Broker has a similar role to that of an Insurance Broker, who advises customers on the best product available to them depending on their individual circumstances.
Within a few years, fixed line Broadband in the UK is going to change massively, with British Telecom (BT) the UK’s primary PSTN, shutting down its traditional phone lines in favour of internet-based systems.
Unless you are technically minded and have an IT background, many of the technical terms used by Broadband suppliers will be unfamiliar, and so you will need to seek advice.
Won’t My Current Supplier Advise Me?
The current supplier of your service will obviously promote their “new” product when the time comes, or when your existing contract expires.
But will it be the best value and will it suit your particular requirements? Are you able to speak with somebody when you need to? Many large telecom companies have notoriously poor customer service, and are only particularly helpful when there is a risk of non-renewal of a contract. And if you run a business, do you have an IT Department to handle this?
FREE and Independent Advice
Contact us for free and independent advice on UK Broadband Services.
Broadband Broker Service
A Broadband Broker Service bridges the gap between Customer and Supplier and in many cases will save you money.
Do you advise both Homeowners and Businesses?
YES!
Power Comms has been advising telecom busineses since 1995. So we have a good understanding of the types of Broadband available in the UK, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and by partnering with a number of leading suppliers over the range of Broadband products from Fixed Line, Wireless and Satellite, we can provide independent advice, backed up by the expertise available from those partners.
Do You Need Broadband Advice?
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What broadband advice Real Customers want
"There is nothing more irritating than not being able to understand the terminology when all you want is a simple explanation and clear guidance. I just need sufficently good Broadband at home to fulfil my Internet needs and a phone system that allows me to call nationally and internationally at reasonable prices."
Typical Homeowner
"Our Business is not large enough to warrant an IT Department and so we are looking for clear guidance and simple advice to ensure that we have the best value and most effective solutions for our business needs - decent Internet access 24/7, a PBX system for our Office and Mobile Services for our staff."
Typical Business Owner
What Broadband Choices are Available in the UK in 2024?
There are four basic broadband types or choices available for UK Broadband, and most customers accessing the internet (the most important reason for having Broadband) use one or more of the available options.
On this Page we provide an overview of Broadband Services in the UK and explain simply the basics of each broadband type and where they would be used. For much more detailed information on each, please click on “More Info” .
Fixed Line Broadband
The term “Fixed Line Broadband” is a bit misleading now, because this type of Broadband was associated with landline phone numbers (and a telephone service). A better description for its replacement would be Cable Broadband or Fibre Optic Broadband.
For UK Home use, most customers have the ADSL service – from BT and associated partners like PlusNet, TalkTalk etc. – but the new services on the way like SoGEA will be via fibre optic cable and will not have a traditional phone number associated with the service. So customers will have to decide whether it is important for them to retain the same landline number, choose another one or simply do without – relying on a mobile number as their contact phone number.
For Business Use, where the broadband requirement is for much higher data speeds, the older IDSN 30 services and leased line solutions will need to be replaced and/or upgraded to Fibre Optic. Many businesses have already replaced their traditional landline fixed numbers with those availalble through VOIP telephony solutions.
Wireless Broadband
Wireless Broadband is “.. telecommunications technology that provides high-speed wireless Internet access or computer networking access over a wide area. The term comprises both fixed and mobile broadband.” (Wikipedia)
It has been a specialist solution mostly for businesses, but the new 5G Networks – which operate with masts like the one shown – can also offer some home owners very high speed broadband from suitable fixed wireless routers.
Where 5G is concerned, the Mast proximity and whether “line of sight” applies can make a huge difference to the wireless broadband speed available, but if these factors are favourable. Wireless Broadband is a very competiitve solution for Businesses and Homeowners alike, for very high speeds and lower cost.
Another important factor in 5G performance is the physical location of a fixed wireless router – since walls and other necessary barriers in Homes or Offices adversely affect 5G signals
Mobile Broadband
Just about everyone in the UK will be familiar with and use Mobile Broadband through their smartphone – or similar device. With 3G and 4G enabled mobile phones – most smartphones operate now with 4G – internet access speeds and bandwidth are improving all the time as more masts are available (see picture) providing more coverage, and further improvements are being made through fibre cable connections from the Mast to the PSTN (exchange).
Most of the UK can now receive a decent “signal”, although coverage for Voice and Data does individually vary from Location to Location, and with the four major UK Network Operators – Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three.
A popular solution for providing internet connectivity is to use a Wireless Dongle – such as the one shown – which connects via USB to a laptop or similar device and provides the 3G or 4G wireless connection to that device.
Satellite Broadband
Satellite Broadband has traditionally been the fall-back solution for UK homeowners and businesses in areas outside the coverage of cable (fixed line) or wireless/mobile broadband services.
Other considerations for both Homes and Businesses using satellite broadband include the additional cost of and installation of the equipment necessary (see the Satellite dish as an example), the possibility of needing planning permission, and the fact that most Satellite systems suffer from latency – signal delay – owing to the distance travelled by the data. As an example, this can make a video conference or chat rather annoying!
However, the various Satellite services have been improving their broadband speeds and reducing the latency problems to an extent that some Satellite Broadband services are now a viable option, particularly where coverage may be needed both inside and outside the UK.
Next Steps
If we have captured your interest to this point and you want to know a lot more about all the technical terms applying to Broadband Serices in the UK and more detail on the choices available to you as a Homeowner or Business, please proceed to our Broadband Information page.
If you would like us to provide independent helpful information and advice to you based on your location in the UK, please complete our FREE Broadband Report Form
