{"id":216643,"date":"2023-11-16T15:56:53","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T15:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestwnews.com\/?p=216643"},"modified":"2023-11-16T15:56:53","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T15:56:53","slug":"bt-sky-and-virgin-media-users-should-not-ignore-urgent-broadband-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestwnews.com\/technology\/bt-sky-and-virgin-media-users-should-not-ignore-urgent-broadband-warning\/","title":{"rendered":"BT, Sky and Virgin Media users should not ignore urgent broadband warning"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If your monthly BT, Sky or Virgin Media broadband bills are making you wince, now is a very good time to shop around. The Black Friday sales start soon and all of the UK’s biggest Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are slashing prices in a bid to get you signing on the dotted line. Black Friday actually starts on November 24 but there are already plenty of deals on the market including discounted prices and offers of free access for a limited time.<\/p>\n

November is always a top time to look at switching suppliers but joining someone new this month does come with a warning. The team at BroadbandSavvy say although there are solid deals on the market it’s important to follow some very simple advice before making any long-term decisions.<\/p>\n

Top tips include checking your local area for so-called Alt-networks – which can often be cheaper than the main providers – as well as checking what speeds you really need as the faster your broadband the bigger the bills.<\/p>\n

It’s also a good idea to check for in-contract price hikes and watch out how well the new provider performs in customer service surveys.<\/p>\n

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If you’re looking for the most affordable bundle from Virgin Media, look no further than the M250 plan. With download speeds of 264Mbps, it’s considerably faster than the average broadband speed in the UK, which sits at 70Mbps. Better yet, it’s free for 3 months.<\/p>\n

Average Download Speed: 264Mbps | Contract Length: 18-month | Set-Up Fee: \u00a30<\/p>\n

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Busy households should look to the M500 package, which unlocks download speeds of 564 Mbps \u2013 around 5x faster than the average home in the UK. Once again, this deal is currently\u00a0free for 3 months.<\/p>\n

Average Download Speed: 564Mbps | Contract Length: 18-month | Set-Up Fee: \u00a30<\/p>\n

Going broadband shopping on Black Friday will save some money off those monthly bills but it’s vital to do your research before taking the plunge.<\/p>\n

Here are 5 useful tips to help you get the very best deal this Black Friday<\/p>\n

1. Check out ALL providers<\/strong><\/p>\n

We’ve all heard of BT, Sky and Virgin Media but there are loads of smaller firms popping up all over the UK with many offering very fast speeds at much lower prices. Community Fibre, for example, is currently dishing ludicrously quick 1Gbps downloads for just \u00a326 per month – that cost beats most of its rivals.<\/p>\n

“Nearly all British broadband providers offer different levels of discounts during Black Friday sales,” explained Tom Paton, founder of broadbandsavvy.com.<\/p>\n

“If you aren’t aware of all the different providers that service your address, you might miss out on finding the cheapest or fastest deal you can get.”<\/p>\n

There are three main categories of broadband providers available in the UK:<\/p>\n

Openreach:<\/strong> BT’s broadband network, which is available almost everywhere in the UK. Providers include BT, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, NOW Broadband, and more.<\/p>\n

Virgin Media:<\/strong> Virgin’s broadband network, available in 56% of the UK.<\/p>\n

Altnets:<\/strong> small, independent broadband providers that service specific cities, towns, or counties. Providers include Community Fibre, Hyperoptic, CityFibre, and more.<\/p>\n

“Over the past five years, a huge number of alternative broadband networks, known as altnets, have sprung up around the UK,” Paton added.<\/p>\n

“At the moment, these small networks are fighting tooth and nail for market share, meaning they often offer very competitive prices, especially during Black Friday sales.”<\/p>\n

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Sky has slashed the prices of its broadband packages for early Black Friday deals.<\/p>\n

The price cuts affect a wide range of products including its standard superfast broadband and its ultrafast broadband packages.<\/p>\n

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Sky is selling its gigabit broadband for just \u00a348 a month where you’ll get up to 900mpbs download speed – perfect for hardcore gamers and families who download a lot of movies and series.<\/p>\n

The contract is for 18 months and will include a \u00a30 set up fee.<\/p>\n