ADSL Broadband
ADSL (or DSL) broadband is high speed internet delivered over a standard phone line. Thanks to upgrades on the lines and at BT and other exchanges, there is greater bandwidth allowing for internet access up to a 24Mbps in download speed. The main benefit of ADSL is its wide availability in the UK.
Comparison of ADSL Broadband Deals
| SORT BY: | Download Speed | Monthly Limit | Contract Length | Setup Cost | Monthly Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
O2 Broadband Standard
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
Free | £7.34 (£12.23 for non-O2 customers)  |
 |
TalkTalk Essentials
|
Up to 8Mb |
40Gb | 18 months |
£29.99 | £6.49 (line rental £10.50) |
 |
BT Option 1
|
Up to 8Mb |
10Gb | 18 months |
Free | £7.78 (first 3 months) |
 |
AOL Broadband Wireless Flexi Off-Peak
|
Up to 8Mb |
10Gb | 1 months |
£29.99 | £4.99 (first 3 months, price can vary on area) |
 |
Tiscali Option 1
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
Free | £6.49 (first 3 months) |
 |
Be Unlimited
|
Up to 24Mb |
Unlimited | 3 months |
£24 | £17.50 |
|
O2 Broadband Premium
|
Up to 20Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
Free | £9.79 (£14.68 for non-O2 customers) |
 |
PlusNet Option 1
|
Up to 8Mb |
2Gb | 1 months |
£6.99 | £9.75 |
|
BT Option 2
|
Up to 8Mb |
15Gb | 18 months |
Free | £13.69 (for 3 months) |
|
AOL Broadband Wireless Flexi Anytime
|
Up to 8Mb |
10Gb | 1 months |
£29.99 | £4.99 (first 3 months, price can vary on area) |
|
PlusNet Option 2
|
Up to 8Mb |
15Gb | 1 months |
£6.99 | £14.65 |
 |
Sky Broadband & TV - £16.50
|
Up to 2Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £16.50 |
|
BT Option 3
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 18 months |
Free | £18.59 (for 3 months) |
|
Be Value
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£24 | £13.50 |
|
Tiscali Talk 1
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £9.99 (first 3 months) |
|
O2 Broadband Pro
|
Up to 20Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
Free | £17.13 (£22.02 for non-O2 customers) |
|
AOL Broadband Wireless Off-Peak
|
Up to 8Mb |
10Gb | 18 months |
Free | £4.99 (for 3 months, price can vary on area) |
|
Be Pro
|
Up to 24Mb |
Unlimited | 3 months |
£24 | £21.50 |
|
Tiscali Talk 2
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £14.99 |
|
AOL Broadband Wireless Anytime
|
Up to 8Mb |
10Gb | 18 months |
Free | £4.99 (first 3 months, price can vary on area) |
|
Sky Broadband & TV - £22
|
Up to 2Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £22.00 |
 |
Orange Home Max
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 18 months |
Free | £25.00 (price can vary on area) |
|
Orange Home Starter
|
Up to 8Mb |
10Gb | 18 months |
Free | £10.00 (price can vary on area) |
|
PlusNet Essential
|
Up to 8Mb |
1Gb | 12 months |
£6.99 | £6.65 (£10.00 line rental) |
 |
Madasafish Max
|
Up to 8Mb |
5Gb | 12 months |
£6.99 | £9.65 (first 6 months) |
 |
Eclipse Home Lite
|
Up to 24Mb |
2Gb | 12 months |
£25.44 | £7.78 (first 3 months) |
|
Tiscali Talk & TV 1
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £15.99 (first 3 months) |
|
Tiscali Talk & TV 2
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £19.99 (first 3 months) |
|
Eclipse Home Select
|
Up to 24Mb |
10Gb | 12 months |
£4.89 | £12.67 (first 3 months) |
|
Sky Broadband & TV - £36
|
Up to 2Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £36.00 |
|
AOL Broadband Wireless (Free Sony PS3)
|
Up to 8Mb |
40Gb | 24 months |
Free | £19.99 (price can vary on area) |
|
Eclipse Home Pro
|
Up to 24Mb |
50Gb | 12 months |
Free | £22.46 (for 3 months) |
|
Madasafish for Mac
|
Up to 8Mb |
5Gb | 12 months |
£6.99 | £9.65 (first 6 months) |
|
Orange Home Select
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 18 months |
Free | £20.00 (includes line rental, price can vary on area) |
|
Madasafish Max Plus
|
Up to 8Mb |
20Gb | 12 months |
£6.99 | £19.45 (first 6 months) |
|
Madasafish Max & Talk
|
Up to 8Mb |
5Gb | 12 months |
£6.99 | £19.40 (first 6 months) |
|
Madasafish Max Premier
|
Up to 8Mb |
50Gb | 12 months |
£6.99 | £25.35 (first 6 months) |
|
Eclipse Business Home Office
|
Up to 24Mb |
3Gb | 12 months |
£60 | £14.95 (exc. VAT) |
|
Eclipse Business 20
|
Up to 24Mb |
20Gb | 12 months |
£85 | £19.95 (exc. VAT) |
|
PlusNet Business
|
Up to 8Mb |
Unlimited | 1 months |
Free | £34.99 (exc. VAT) |
|
PlusNet Small Business
|
Up to 8Mb |
2Gb | 1 months |
£40 | £19.99 (exc. VAT) |
|
Eclipse Business 50
|
Up to 24Mb |
50Gb | 12 months |
£85 | £29.95 (exc. VAT) |
|
PlusNet Business Teleworker
|
Up to 8Mb |
2Gb | 1 months |
Free | £13.61 (exc. VAT) |
|
Eclipse Business Unlimited
|
Up to 24Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£85 | £49.95 (exc. VAT) |
|
PlusNet Pro for Gaming
|
Up to 8Mb |
15Gb | 1 months |
£46.99 | £19.55 |
|
BT Business Option 1
|
Up to 8Mb |
10Gb | 24 months |
£59 | £15.00 (exc. VAT) |
About ADSL Broadband
ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line and is a technology that allows for high speed data transfer over a standard copper wire landline phone line. The main advantage of ADSL is that it users a microfilter to split the line and allow it to be used for voice calls and for internet access at the same time. Almost all telephone exchanges in the UK now have ADSL capability, so ADSL broadband is available to far more households than cable broadband.Full duplex ADSL refers to the fact of splitting the connection further to allow for a simultaneous upstream (upload) and downstream (download) band on the line. Original ADSL uses the 1.1 MHz frequency band, the newer ADSL2+ (used by O2 and Be Broadband) uses the 2.2 MHz frequency band with much higher download speeds. Almost all ADSL internet connections have a faster maximum download speed than the upload speed.
To connect to an ADSL internet connection, you will need an ADSL modem. Almost all broadband providers will give you a free ADSL modem, sometimes integrated in a wireless router when you sign up for the service (this excludes 1 month contract offers). Otherwise, they are available for less than £30.
