The best broadband deals for 2011

If you fancy nabbing a brilliant broadband contract, these are the deals for you.

Life in 2011 is a touch more expensive than it was last year. With VAT moving up to 20%, and inflation rising yet again to an eye-watering 3.7%, our money doesn’t go quite as far as it used to.

So it should be no surprise that many of us are looking at where we can save a few quid on our monthly bills. And according to new research by swiftcover.com, our broadband bills are third on the priority list, with 42% looking to switch, after cheaper energy costs (66%) and credit card offers (55%).

So if you’re on the hunt for a great deal on your internet usage, here are the best deals around no matter what type of surfer you are!

Basic broadband

Let’s start by looking at some very basic deals. These are best for those of you that aren’t big on downloading music and films or online gaming, and want a simple deal that is as cheap as possible.

Package	Speed	Usage limit	Contract length	One-off costs	Monthly charge (excluding line rental)	Total first year cost
Plusnet Value	20mb	10GB	12 months	£29.99	£6.49 (free for 3 months)	£88.40
Orange Simply Broadband*	8mb	Unlimited	18 months	Free	£10	£120.00
Plusnet Extra	20mb	60GB	12 months	£29.99	£11.49 (free for 3 months)	£133.40
Plusnet Value 1 month	20mb	10GB	1 month	£69.99	£6.49	£147.87
BE Value	12mb	Unlimited	12 months	Free	£14.08	£168.96

*Orange mobile customers only.

Big users

However, if like me you download a lot of music or stream TV and films on your computer (all legally, obviously) then you’ll want a service that offers high speeds and high (or even unlimited) usage limits.

Below are some of the best deals around if that sounds like you.

Package	Speed	Usage limit	Contract length	One-off costs	Monthly charge (excluding line rental)	Total first year cost
Sky Unlimited	20mb	Unlimited	12 months	Free	£15	£180
BE Unlimited	24mb	Unlimited	12 months	Free	£18.26	£219.12
BT Broadband Option 2	20mb	40GB	12 months	£5	£21.50	£263
Virgin Media National Broadband XL	20mb	Unlimited	12 months	£36	£15	£276
BT Broadband Option 3	20mb	Unlimited	12 months	£5	£25.60	£312.20

Getting a package

Now that’s all well and good, but many of us don’t buy our broadband as a standalone item – we look to get a bundle, including landline or digital TV (or both) in order to get a better overall deal.

Obviously, what you want from your bundle will vary from others. However, the below deals look like pretty good broadband and phoneline all-rounders to me – so good in fact, that I actually have the O2 deal myself!

Package	Speed	Usage limit	Calls deal	Contract length	One-off costs	Monthly cost (excluding line rental)	Total first year cost
Primus Phone and Broadband Saver	24mb	10GB	Free evening and weekend calls	18 months	Free	£4.99	£59.88
TalkTalk Broadband and Phone Essentials	24mb	40GB	Free evening and weekend calls	18 months	Free	£3.49 for first six months, £6.99 thereafter	£62.88
Tesco Broadband	20mb	Unlimited	Free evening and weekend calls	18 months	Free	£8 (first 3 months are free)	£72
O2 The Basics*	20mb	20GB	All calls 4.60p per minute	12 months	Free	£8.17 (first 3 months broadband free)	£75.53
Sky Unlimited + Talk Freetime	20mb	Unlimited	Free evening and weekend calls	12 months	Free	£10 (3 months free broadband)	£90

*Available only to O2 customers.

What about if you want TV thrown in as well? Below are some of my favourite bundles encompassing broadband, landline and digital TV.

Package	Speed	Usage limit	Calls deal	TV package	Contract length	Monthly cost	Total first year cost
Virgin Media: Broadband L, Phone M, TV M+	10mb	Unlimited	Free weekend calls	65+ channels and on demand entertainment	18 months	£9.50 for 6 months, £19.25 per month thereafter	£172.50
Virgin Media: Broadband XL, Phone M, TV M+	20mb	Unlimited	Free weekend calls	65+ channels and on demand entertainment	18 months	£13.25 for 6 months, £26.50 per month thereafter	£238.50
Sky Everyday Lite + TV + Talk Freetime	20mb	2GB	Free evening and weekend calls	200+ TV and radio channels	12 months	£19.50	£264
BT TV, Broadband and Calls	20mb	40GB	Free weekend calls	BT Vision package, including thousands of hours of on demand TV	24 months	£18	£281
Sky Unlimited + TV + Talk Freetime	20mb	Unlimited	Free evening and weekend calls	200+ TV and radio channels	12 months	£19.50 (broadband free for first 3 months)	£331.50

Utility Warehouse

Rachel Robson reveals some top tips for successfully complaining to your broadband provider.

Finally, a word on the Utility Warehouse. If you like a simple life, as I do, then the Utility Warehouse may appeal. By signing up you can get discounted deals on broadband and landline costs, but also your gas and electricity and mobile phone, all within a single bill.

You have two choices if you want to go for a phone and broadband bundle with Utility Warehouse. There’s the Broadcall Standard, which offers speeds of up to 24mb and a usage limit of 40GB at a monthly rate of £19.99 and with no minimum term, or the Broadcall Max which offers the same speeds but unlimited data allowance, for a monthly rate of £24.99. Both offer unlimited free phone calls to other Utility Warehouse members.

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Compare a range of great broadband deals at Broadband Choices