Get better broadband for under £10 a month

A `speed war' has broken out in the broadband world. You can now get mega-fast 20Mb services at incredibly low prices!

Do you suffer from 'switcher apathy'? In other words, do you waste money because you can't be bothered to jump ship to better, cheaper providers? If apathy, anxiety or plain old laziness is holding you back, then you could be in for a shock....

Credit-crunch cutbacks

In the past two years, thanks to the credit crunch and an economic recession, millions of consumers (including me) have stopped overspending and started cutting back on their household expenses.

Nevertheless, I suspect that, in a rush to cut major household expenses such as their monthly mortgage and energy bills, many cash-strapped consumers have overlooked how much they spend purely on accessing the internet.

Broadband: the forgotten bill?

When was the last time you shopped around for a broadband service? If you haven't switched in the past two or three years, then you'll be on a 'legacy tariff'. In which case, you're paying a first-class price for a third-class service. In short, you're getting a slow, old-fashioned service at a high price.

If you haven't shopped around for broadband, then you're not alone. In the past four years, half (50%) of all broadband users haven't switched provider, according to a recent survey by lovemoney.com partner Broadband Choices.

Broadband Choices reckons that the typical broadband tariff has fallen in cost by more than a third (37%) since 2006. Yet, over the same period, the average connection has become eight times faster. As a result, net surfers on the priciest tariffs could waste up to £230 a year by not switching to the right package.

The broadband speed wars

Let's be honest: it's crazy to pay top dollar for a slow, outdated broadband service. Yet millions of us do, either unwittingly or because we haven't done our homework.

The good news for reluctant switchers is that, once again, a price war has broken out among broadband suppliers. With major providers battling it out for market share, the selection of ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and packages has never been better.

For instance, as you can see from the table below, broadband providers are practically cutting each other's throats in order to sign up customers for their new, ultra-fast 20Mb services: 

Best Buy 20Mb broadband services

Source: Broadband Choices

Table notes:

Orange: Must take Orange line rental at £10.50 a month; discounts for Orange mobile users.

TalkTalk: online offer includes free connection (saving £29.99); unlimited evening/weekend calls to UK landlines; must take TalkTalk line rental at £11.25 a month.

O2: Three months free (offer ends 31/10/09 so get in quick!); price excludes line rental (£11.25 from BT; less from rivals); discounts for existing O2 users.

PlusNet: Four months free exclusively via Broadband Choices; £6.99 P&P for router; monthly charge varies from area to area.

BT: £7.78 for three months and then £15.65 thereafter; unlimited weekend and evening call plan; must take BT line rental at £11.25 a month.

Shop around!

As you can see, the speed war among smaller broadband providers means that you can get the UK's fastest broadband, plus unlimited access, for under £10 a month. I'm willing to bet that your existing service looks clunky and expensive in comparison!

Usually, finding a new broadband service is a trade-off between four things: price, speed, reliability and customer service. However, with the big players such as BT losing customers to fast-growing, highly rated providers such as Plusnet, the pendulum has swung firmly in the consumer's direction.

In summary, a broadband connection has become a vital necessity for most of the UK's 25 million households. Therefore, if you're stuck on an old broadband package, then be brave: shop around for cheaper, faster broadband. Otherwise, you'll miss out on lower prices, faster speeds and better service when you surf...

Top tips for switching broadband

• 1. Ask your existing provider for its best tariffs, as you may be able to bag a better deal without switching supplier.

• 2. Compare broadband and sign up online, as this route yields the best discounts and incentives.

• 3. Prices and packages vary by postcode, so check the bundles on offer in your local area.

• 4. Use an Ofcom-approved comparison calculator such as Broadband Choices to find the best deals.

• 5. You may be able to save a bundle by bundling together broadband, home phone and digital TV in a single, one-bill package.

More: Car insurance goes up 14% | Don't fall for this financial fiddle