Broadband & home phone explained

Top broadband ISPs know that when you’re choosing a broadband connection for your home you want it to be practical and low maintenance. Because of this you’ll find that most ISPs will offer you packages that combine broadband and phone connection. This means that you can get competitively priced phone calls as well as great quality broadband. Not only will you have just one monthly bill but you’ll also benefit from excellent deals such as free off-peak calls.

The majority of ISPs will supply you with your broadband via an ADSL connection, which means that you access the internet through your existing phone line, so it makes perfect sense to receive your home phone and broadband services from the same provider. Because of the wide availability of ASDL connection, you’ll be able to opt for this sort of bundle package wherever you live in the UK.

In most cases the phone lines are owned by BT and this means that other ISPs pay BT for the right to provide you with their internet and phone connection through the BT network. Be careful though as some ISPs still require you to pay line rental to BT which bumps up the monthly cost, other providers use free line rental as an incentive so watch out for this if you are keen to lower your monthly outgoings.

Broadband and phone providers:

BT and AOL Broadband

With so many ISPs providing broadband and phone packages it can be difficult to know where to begin; many consumers prefer to stick with a company that they know, like the telecommunications giant BT. Choosing BT is often the most hassle-free option particularly if BT is your existing home phone provider.

Moreover, the ISP provides very competitive deals and free evening and weekend calls come as standard even with BT’s cheapest packages. One of BT’s top rivals is AOL Broadband, just like BT, AOL offer unlimited free off-peak calls at a very similar monthly rate.

Budget broadband and phone Tiscali, TalkTalk & Toucan

There are plenty of other ISPs keen to get a piece of the pie and they provide similar deals for a low cost. If you’re looking to save money then check out ISPs such as Tiscali, Talktalk and Toucan. These companies offer competitive broadband speeds of up to 8Mb with generous download limits whilst keeping monthly costs down. The downside is that free off-peak calls are sometimes limited to a certain number of minutes per month on the cheaper packages.

However, Talktalk have fewer restrictions and with their two broadband/phone packages you can choose free off-peak or anytime minutes depending on your phone usage and how much you’re willing to spend each month. And, as they’re one of the cheapest ISPs on the market you’re guaranteed that whichever package you choose you’ll be getting a great deal.

Freedom (DST, Plusnet & Orange)

Perhaps what you’re looking for in a broadband phone bundle is the freedom to use the internet and your phone without having to watch out for hidden costs. In this case your best bet is to go for an ISP like DST, Plusnet or Orange.

All of these ISPs offer packages which include free anytime minutes with their broadband, so cheap chatting isn’t restricted to evenings and weekends. Additionally Orange and DST give you the option of unlimited broadband usage allowing you to access the internet whenever you like, for as long as you like.

Your contract with DST, Plusnet or Orange will include a free modem; DST for example offer a USB modem for households with one computer requiring access to the internet whilst Plusnet provide free connection and a free wireless router. With Orange’s Home Max package you’ll receive their state of the art LiveBox Modem which is discreet and efficient, allowing you to make the most of using your home phone and broadband simultaneously.

In addition to this DST and rival Plusnet both offer a one-month contract which gives you the freedom to try their packages for a short time so, if for any reason you’re not satisfied, you’re not tied into a year-long contract.

Broadband, phone and TV (Virgin Media, Tiscali and Sky)

If you want to minimize the hassle of organizing your home communication system then you may find that the broadband whizz kids Virgin Media, Tiscali or Sky are best suited to you. These ISPs provide high quality, efficient broadband and competitive deals on phone calls; Virgin Media for example offer free weekend calls as part of their cheaper packages and if you upgrade to a broadband bundle, you’ll benefit from free evening calls as well.

Tiscali are beginning to offer broadband, TV and home packages in some areas after their acquisition of Homechoice. However it's Sky and Virgin Media who really own this area. What makes Virgin Media and Sky unique is their 3-part communication packages which provide digital TV alongside the broadband and phone services. To find out more about this take a look at our Broadband and TV section.

Broadband phone combinations

Though home phone usage has fallen by the wayside to a great degree since the take-off of mobile phones, there are a number of ways in which using your home phone as opposed to your mobile can save you money. If you regularly make international calls it is much cheaper to make calls from your home phone.

In a scenario where you are calling overseas for business or pleasure, TalkTalk's global talk phone broadband bundles are worth considering.