Latest news with #FullFibre150
Wales Online
11-08-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Virgin Media countdown as retailer hands out free 50-inch TVs to these UK bill payers
Virgin Media countdown as retailer hands out free 50-inch TVs to these UK bill payers There's only days left to get a 50-inch Toshiba TV or bill credit for free from Virgin Media - but shoppers have to do this The provider has two huge freebies on select plans It's not often brands hand out products for free, especially when it comes to home tech. That's exactly what Virgin Media are offering new customers this week, as it dishes out 50-inch Toshiba TVs for free. The deal sees shoppers get a £259.99 model for £0 if they take out one of three TV and broadband combo plans. A chance for users to get a new device ahead of the new Premier League season, or upgrade their broadband in time for the new school year, but the clock is ticking. Consumers only have a few days left to claim the deal, as it ends this Wednesday, August 13. The deal isn't available to everyone, shoppers have to take out either the Bigger Combo bundle + Sports, Biggest Combo bundle or the Mega Volt bundle, as we unveil the details below. All the above are plans suited for those who want to bundle in TV packages and reliable broadband speeds. However, the prices do go up depending on the TV channels added. Rivals Sky currently aren't offering any freebies with its TV and broadband combos, but some of the Virgin plans do include Sky Sports and Sky Cinema. Toshiba TV or £145 bill credit £0 Virgin Media Buy Here Product Description Anyone who takes out one of three Virgin Media TV and broadband plans will get the choice of a huge freebie. Either a 50-inch Toshiba TV worth £259.99 or £145 to put towards a bill. The prices of the plans start at £54.99 per month but the Toshiba TV or bill credit are £0. There's also something on offer for shoppers who are happy with the TV they already have at home. Virgin Media also gives the option for consumers to pick a £145 bill credit. This goes off the price of the total package price, but is a way for consumers to get the plans at a reduced rate. It's worth highlighting that Sky's prices start at a much cheaper price, for instance, its Essential TV and Full Fibre 150 priced at £35 per month. Elsewhere, and BT could be an option for broadband shoppers with its Ultrafast Full Fibre plan. Virgin Media plans that come with free TV or £145 bill credit Below are all the details of the plans, which come with the choice of a free 50-inch TV or £145 bill credit, up until August 13. Starting at £54.99 is the Bigger Combo Bundle + Sports, geared up for footie and F1 fans (to name a few) it has more than £200 channels and even Sky Sports included. Next up in price is the £64.99 a month Biggest Combo Bundle, this has internet speeds of 516Mbps (the same as the above plan) and more than 210 TV channels. Then onto the most expensive, the Mega Volt Bundle, with a huge 1Gbps broadband, 230 TV channels, access to Sky Sports and Cinema, plus an O2 Unlimited SIM - all of this is for £79.99 though, so a much bigger price commitment. Article continues below Customers should note that there is a fixed contract length, and if they leave before the term, will face an exit fee. It's 24 months for the Bigger Combo Bundle and Biggest Combo, but the Mega Volt bundle is less at 18 months. Another factor worth flagging, which is a downside to most providers not only Virgin Media, is inflation price hikes. In line with inflation each year, it states on its site that prices for contract payers can go up, something also outline on Sky and EE too. Despite running out in two days, there is a strong likelihood we'll see this deal Virgin Media deal (or something similar) appear again. It's not the first time the provider has offered this type of deal, just last month it dished out free Hisense TVs.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Sky broadband to get more expensive this month when 'digital exclusive' deals end
Sky has confirmed the end date for its 'digital exclusive price' deals, with prices set to rise after the promotion ends. Sky has confirmed its broadband prices for new customers will increase when a series of cost-cutting deals end this month. Over the last several weeks, Sky has been reducing the price of its broadband and TV packages, but most of these offers have now returned to their regular pricing. However, Sky continues to offer some attractive discounts on its fibre broadband contracts through several 'digital exclusive price' deals, providing speeds up to a whopping 900Mbps on certain plans. These 'exclusive' prices currently range from £25 per month for Full Fibre 75 to £42 for Full Fibre Gigafast – Sky's fastest broadband. The mid-range option is Sky's Full Fibre 500, now priced at £31 – a monthly saving of £13.50 compared to the standard price of £43.50. However, Sky has confirmed each of these deals will expire on Wednesday, May 28, with prices set to rise after this date. For those contemplating a switch, bundling broadband with a TV subscription often provides better value, so it's worth considering Sky's offerings. After ending its spring sale, Sky brought back a popular TV, Netflix and broadband package, saying 'our lowest price is back'. The Essential TV and Full Fibre 150 bundle has returned to £35 per month and includes more than 100 channels, such as Sky Atlantic. There's also free access to Netflix and Discovery+, with an additional 35 channels available if you upgrade to Ultimate TV for an extra £4, reports Wales Online. Sky's latest TV offer gives Virgin Media's Bigger Combo bundle a run for its money, though there are some notable differences between the two plans. Virgin's package boasts more than 200 TV channels and 362Mbps fibre broadband at £34.99 per month, but it doesn't include Sky Atlantic, Netflix or Discovery+. Sky Atlantic is part of BT and EE's NOW Entertainment and Full Fibre 300 plan, which costs £51.99 per month. However, those who stick with Sky can take advantage of the company's new Sky Stream device, which provides TV and streaming services via WiFi instead of a traditional satellite dish. Moreover, Sky's One Touch Switch scheme means that they will deal with the current broadband provider to facilitate the switch. Numerous Sky customers have shared their experiences with the brand on Trustpilot, with many praising it as 'outstanding'. One five-star review says: "Outstanding. Service is up and running smoothly. The quality of service is excellent, really fast, and I am delighted that I chose Sky broadband and TV." Another says: "I have Full Fibre 150. Zero problems. Live sport doesn't lag, and it's a good price at under £30. Installation was perfect." A third reviewer said: "Great experience from the minute I signed up. It was super easy to sign up online and at a competitive price. The equipment was delivered quickly and when I had an issue with a missing parcel, customer services went above and beyond to try and get me a replacement." However, another reviewer offered a more balanced assessment, saying: "Like most broadband companies, the speed can be a bit up and down, but on the whole it's a good service."
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Sky broadband prices set to rise as 'exclusive' deals end
Sky is rounding off its spring sale by upping the price of broadband and TV packages, but there's still time to bag a bargain before they revert to their usual pricing Sky has officially announced when its broadband prices for new customers will increase as a series of cost-cutting deals end soon. Over the past month, Sky has been reducing the price of its broadband and TV packages, but most of these offers have now returned to their normal pricing. Despite this, Sky continues to offer some attractive discounts on its fibre broadband contracts in several 'digital exclusive price' deals, boasting speeds up to a whopping 900Mbps on certain plans. These 'exclusive' prices currently range from £25 per month for Full Fibre 75 to £42 for Full Fibre Gigafast – Sky's quickest broadband. A solid mid-range option is Sky's Full Fibre 500, which is now priced at £31 – a monthly saving of £13.50 compared to the standard price of £43.50. However, Sky has confirmed that these deals are set to end on Wednesday, May 28, with prices due to rise after this date. For those considering a switch, bundling broadband with a TV subscription often provides better value, so it's worth considering Sky's offerings. After ending its spring sale, Sky brought back a popular TV, Netflix and broadband package, announcing 'our lowest price is back'. The Essential TV and Full Fibre 150 bundle has returned to £35 per month and includes more than 100 channels, including Sky Atlantic. There's also free access to Netflix and Discovery+, with an additional 35 channels available when upgrading to Ultimate TV for an extra £4, reports Wales Online. Sky's TV goes head to head with Virgin Media's Bigger Combo bundle, though there are some notable differences between each package. Virgin's deal includes more than 200 TV channels and 362Mbps fibre broadband for £34.99 per month, but it doesn't include Sky Atlantic, Netflix or Discovery+. Sky Atlantic is included with BT and EE's NOW Entertainment and Full Fibre 300 plan, but this comes with a heftier price tag of £51.99 per month. However, those sticking with Sky can take advantage of the provider's new Sky Stream device, which delivers TV and streaming services via WiFi rather than a traditional satellite dish. Moreover, the One Touch Switch scheme means Sky will deal with an existing broadband provider to handle the switch on behalf of the customer. Many Sky customers have been voicing their experiences of the brand on Trustpilot, with some praising it as 'outstanding'. One glowing five-star review says: "Outstanding. Service is up and running smoothly. The quality of service is excellent, really fast, and I am delighted that I chose Sky broadband and TV." Another says: "I have Full Fibre 150. Zero problems. Live sport doesn't lag, and it's a good price at under £30. Installation was perfect." A third customer says: "Great experience from the minute I signed up. It was super easy to sign up online and at a competitive price. The equipment was delivered quickly and when I had an issue with a missing parcel, customer services went above and beyond to try and get me a replacement." However, one reviewer added: "Like most broadband companies, the speed can be a bit up and down, but on the whole it's a good service."
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The best broadband deals for May 2025: Compare the top offers and save money by switching
You don't have to pay through the roof for a decent internet connection. It's possible to find an inexpensive broadband deal by comparing providers today. Fibre broadband is faster than traditional copper connections – and the good news is that most UK households can now get this type of internet. Here are the best fibre broadband deals, whether you're looking for the fastest speeds, the shortest contracts or the best free gifts. Find the fastest and cheapest broadband - and see if you can save Broadband, TV and phone contracts are notoriously sticky, with customers often allowing deals to run on for many years while providers raise prices. But it may be possible for you to get faster broadband, a better TV package and an improved phone deal, while saving money each month. It is always worth comparing prices to see if you can save - particularly as the cost of living crisis bites. This is Money has partnered with Broadband Choices to offer readers the chance to easily search for the best and cheapest deals for their broadband, mobile and TV. Compare broadband deals: here are our top picks Before taking out a deal, read the terms and conditions and find out about any mid-contract price rises. Some deals come with incentives which aren't around forever, so if you want to take advantage of rewards like gift cards and vouchers, check when you have to act by and read all the terms of the deal. Best cheap broadband deal overall – NOW TV, Now Full Fibre 75 Price: £24 a month Length: 24 months Set-up cost: £0 NOW TV is operated by Sky, so this contract should be widely available. This is a good deal for full fibre broadband, at a speed that's fast enough for everyday use. Best deal for cheap fast broadband – Hyperoptic, 500Mb Fibre Connection Price: £25 a month Length: 24 months Set-up cost: £0 If your area can get faster speeds, check out Hyperoptic. This provider isn't available everywhere, only covering areas in London and larger cities at the moment. But if you can get it, its packages are competitive. For fast speeds from a more well-known and widely available provider, consider Plusnet's Full Fibre 500 package, which costs £31.99 a month for and comes with a £75 reward card. This offer is available until 7 May. Best broadband deal with free gift – Vodafone, Full Fibre 150 Price: £26 a month Length: 24 months Set-up cost: £0 Vodafone's offering a £125 gift card to spend at Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S and Amazon when you sign up for its Full Fibre 150 package. But be quick, because the deal ends on 5 May. For a deal that's lasting a bit longer, Plusnet is a good alternative. Its Full Fibre 145 package will cost you £26.99 a month for 24 months, and you'll get a £50 reward card after you sign up. The deal is available until 7 May. Best broadband deal with TV – Sky Stream, Essential TV, Netflix & Full Fibre 75 Broadband Price: £35 a month Length: 24 months Set-up cost: £0 Sky's Essential TV package includes Sky Atlantic, Netflix and Discovery+. The monthly bill is the same for 75Mbps, 150Mbps or 300Mbps, which is great news for those who want and can get faster speeds. Best 18-month broadband deal – Virgin Media, M125 Fibre Broadband Price: £23.99 a month Length: 18 months Set-up cost: £0 If you don't want to get locked into a two-year contract, 18-month deals are available with some providers. Virgin Media is offering £55 bill credit with this package until 8 May. Keep in mind Virgin Media isn't available in all parts of the country. Is it worth switching broadband supplier? It's worth comparing deals if you're reaching the end of your contract. Switching suppliers can bag you: a cheaper deal faster internet a competitive bundled package (for example with TV and streaming services included) free gifts and incentives to move improved service You'll be shunted to a rolling contract when your existing one expires – and it's likely the provider will hike your monthly bill. Providers bank on customers not taking any action in this situation, so you should check whether you can get a better deal elsewhere. Keep in mind your provider must tell you when you're reaching the end of your contract and what alternative deals they have available. Moving to one of these in good time means you'll avoid hefty out-of-contract prices. How to change broadband supplier It's now straightforward to switch broadband through one touch switching. Once you've found a new deal, give the new provider your details, including your address and current provider. Your old provider should send you information to help you decide whether you want to continue with the switch. If you do, the providers will arrange for this to happen on your preferred switching date. If something goes wrong you may be entitled to compensation. For example, you can't be left without internet for more than one working day during the switch, under Ofcom's rules. Can I get fibre broadband? Your internet speed is determined by the type of broadband connection you have. The slowest type of broadband is Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), which runs on copper phone lines. Full fibre runs completely on fibre optic cables and is the fastest, but not every household can get full fibre currently. Here's where availability stands right now: Most UK households can get ADSL broadband. While it's the slowest type of broadband, it's widely available, so remote and rural locations can still get connected. ADSL speeds generally reach 21Mbps (megabits per second). Most UK households can get part-fibre broadband. This broadband can reach speeds of around 76Mbps. It's known as fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) broadband. Your home's linked to a cabinet on your street by a copper cable, with the cabinet then connected to the broadband exchange by a fibre optic cable. 69 per cent of UK households can get full-fibre broadband. This is called fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband, because the fibre optic cable is connected directly to your home. Speeds can reach 1Gbps (gigabits per second). Telecoms regulator Ofcom wants full fibre rolled out to almost the whole country by 2027. Use Ofcom's postcode checker to find out what broadband is available in your area. What speed broadband do I need? The best broadband for you won't necessarily be the fastest. You might end up paying for speeds you don't need – it depends on what internet you can get in your area, how many people are in your household, what you each use the internet for and how many people are using the internet at any one time. Many households now use the internet for much more than browsing the internet and sending email. Network provider Openreach says households with no more than four people should find download speeds of around 50-76Mbps enough for basic internet use plus streaming, working from home and video calls. If you throw gaming, 4K streaming or using virtual reality in the mix – or there are more than four people in the house – you may benefit from faster speeds. You can find full fibre broadband deals offering speeds of up to 1Gbps (gigabits per second) from providers including BT, Vodafone and Virgin Media. What is the average internet speed in the UK? In 2024 the average internet speed in the UK was 223Mbps, according to Ofcom's Connected Nations report. This was up from 170Mbps in 2023. How to haggle for a deal from your current provider If you're coming to the end of your broadband contract or are out of contract already, it's often possible to get cheaper internet by negotiating with your current provider. It may be worth haggling when you're still under contract, but your options will be far more limited. Being able to switch without penalty puts you in a stronger position for haggling. When you're under contract, you probably won't be able to leave without paying exit fees. This can be expensive, because it usually involves paying for the remaining months of your contract. Here are our tips on how to haggle broadband: 1. Check your mid-contract price hike Broadband providers raise prices in March or April each year. If your provider tries to hike your monthly bill by more than you agreed to, you have a right to leave within 30 days without penalty, so review your contract to make sure it's increasing by the right amount. 2. Compare broadband deals when your contract is ending When haggling, it pays to be prepared. The best time to compare deals is a few weeks before your contract is due to expire. If you find cheaper internet than your provider's offering and it's the speed you want, note the prices down, contact your provider and ask them to match what you've found. Don't take the first offer – your provider will have a dedicated team that can authorise better deals. 3. Be persistent When you contact your provider at the end (or out) of your contract and say you want to switch because you've found a better deal elsewhere, you'll usually be put through to its retentions department. This team's job is to make sure customers stick with the provider. The trick is to stay calm, civil and persistent. Don't let the price you'll be happy with slip – it can harm your position. If you're broadly happy with your provider, say your bill is your biggest sticking point. But if you don't have any success initially, hammer home any issues you've had. Are you getting the advertised speeds? Is the Wi-Fi connection strong enough? If not, these are all bargaining chips you can haggle with. 4. Consider extras – but only if you need them Your provider may be more willing to throw in gifts, extras or add-ons rather than drastically reduce the price. Don't be rushed into accepting these – they can sound tempting, but you may end up with something you didn't really need. In the same way, think about whether you really need everything you're paying for currently. For example, reducing your speed could make your internet cheaper, and ask about deals without extras added. 5. Be willing to switch Don't rush to accept a deal. Tell your provider you need time to think about it, or you need to discuss the offer with someone else first – whether that's your partner, housemate or children. If you aren't happy with their offer, the final trick up your sleeve should be to go ahead with switching to a cheaper deal. Luckily switching broadband provider is the simplest it's ever been. In 2024 Ofcom introduced one touch switching. You just need to give the provider you want to switch to your details and they can kickstart the process. Answers to common questions about broadband Do you need a landline for broadband? No, many providers allow you to take out a broadband-only deal. While your home may still be connected to the internet in part by a copper phone line, you don't always need to take out a home phone service or pay for calls. In this situation, your monthly price will reflect the cost of renting the phone line for a broadband-only service. Full fibre, cable, satellite and mobile broadband connections aren't delivered through a copper phone line, so you won't need a landline if you can get these types of internet. What is the best broadband in my area? The best broadband is subjective because it depends on your household's needs. But you can find your best deal by entering your address into a comparison tool, which should give you an idea of the packages available in your area. Ofcom's latest statistics suggest that out of the major providers, customers are most satisfied with Plusnet for overall service and internet speeds.
North Wales Live
28-04-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Sky makes major switch to TV and Full Fibre plan with much cheaper price
As more consumers look to cut down on their bill spending after the recent price increases, a host of retailers are offering deals on essential household bills. As broadband and TV deals continue to soar, Sky is still offering a much cheaper price that beats both Virgin Media and BT. The provider is still offering its cheaper rate on the Essential TV and Full Fibre 300 Broadband package, now £35 per month. Which now means it's only £7 more than the standalone broadband, yes the price shoppers pay without all the TV perks. For the new £35 price, customers will have access to over 100 TV channels, including Sky Atlantic, complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+, along with their 300Mbps broadband. Sky now provides its TV service via a Sky Stream puck, which operates over WiFi rather than a traditional satellite dish or aerial. This component of the TV bundle typically costs £15 on its own, meaning customers effectively receive 300Mbps broadband for £20. Sky has also launched the new One Touch Switch scheme, allowing customers to switch providers without having to contact their current one - Sky handles the process. Another plan in the sale is the 150Mbps Full Fibre 150 plan, that has been reduced to £26 per month – the same price as the 75Mbps option. This is a penny more expensive than Virgin's basic 132Mbps plan, but it also provides around 28Mbps additional speed. BT doesn't quite match up to its main competitors, with its closest plan only providing 36Mbps for £27.99 per month. Even with BT's offer of three months free, its contracts ultimately cost more than Sky for similar speeds over the duration of the plan. However, it may be worth investing a little extra with Sky if you can afford it, as for an additional £2 each month, Sky will double the speed from 150Mbps to 300Mbps. This is due to the Full Fibre 300 plan now being available for £28 per month, which Sky claims is its 'lowest ever price', reports the Mirror. This deal outperforms both BT and Virgin, with the latter's 362Mbps plan priced at £29.99. However, better value can be found for those bundling their broadband with a TV package. It's important to note that Sky's TV and broadband plans are 24-month contracts, so these prices require a long-term commitment. Sky also states its price 'may change' during this period, as most providers increase their prices annually in line with inflation. This year, Sky increased its TV and broadband prices by 6.2%, suggesting a similar rise could occur in April 2026. However, Sky is among the few providers that allow members to terminate their contract early if a price increase is announced – a significant advantage over competitors like Virgin and BT. Sky has received glowing reviews from Trustpilot users, with one customer sharing: "I used Sky broadband for many years before moving house and after moving I stayed connected. It's efficient, reliable and affordable broadband". Another user praised the company's customer service, stating: "We were impressed by Sky's customer service, whether it is a conversation over the phone or an engineer home visit to help resolve the issue. For the past 10 years of having broadband with various providers, Sky is the best in terms of customer service." However, not all experiences have been positive, as one customer pointed out: "Sky is great when it actually works. Me and my husband are gamers and the last couple of months has been awful. No internet connection. Also not helpful if you are working from home or doing online courses."
