Cable Broadband
Cable broadband is high speed internet delivered over a cable connection, often alongside TV and telephone signals. The primary cable broadband provider in the UK is Virgin Media, previously ntl. The fastest cable broadband packages are faster than ADSL, but availability is limited to certain parts of the UK.
Comparison of Cable Broadband Deals
| SORT BY: | Popularity | Download Speed | Monthly Limit | Contract Length | Setup Cost | First Year Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Virgin Media L Phone (Cable)
|
Up to 10Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £171.00 | £5.00 (first 3 months, £11 line rental)  |
|
Virgin Media Triple for £14 (TV)
|
Up to 10Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £198.00 | £14.00 (landline £11) |
|
Virgin Media XL Phone (Cable)
|
Up to 20Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £210.00 | £10.00 (first 3 months, £11 line rental) |
|
Virgin Media L (Cable)
|
Up to 10Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £210.00 | £15.00 (first 3 months) |
|
Virgin Media Triple for £24 (TV)
|
Up to 10Mb |
Unlimited | 18 months |
Free | £216.00 | £24.00 (line rental £11) |
|
Virgin Media 2 for £31 (TV)
|
Up to 10Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £302.00 | £31.00 |
|
Virgin Media XL (Cable)
|
Up to 20Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £390.00 | £30.00 (first 3 months) |
|
Virgin Media Quadplay Bundle (Cable)
|
Up to 10Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
£30 | £447.00 | £36.00 (first 3 months, landline £11) |
|
Virgin Media XXL Phone (Cable)
|
Up to 50Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
Free | £552.00 | £35.00 (landline £11) |
|
Virgin Media XXL (Cable)
|
Up to 50Mb |
Unlimited | 12 months |
Free | £600.00 | £50.00 |
About Cable Broadband
Cable broadband is broadband internet access delivered to consumers along the cable television system. This simply means that the wiring from the ISP to the household or business being used is the same wiring used to provide cable TV or cable phone lines. Although UK availability is less widespread than for ADSL, cable broadband is widely available in urban areas. It also provides faster internet access than other technologies, and is theoretically capable of speeds of up to 50 Mbps (although this is not yet supported in the UK).There is now one cable broadband provider in the UK, Virgin Media (what was Ntl). Offering more reliable broadband internet access than most other providers with download speeds of up to 20 Mbps and a free wireless router (including a cable modem) or a free modem from all packages, Virgin Media is a strong competitor despite having a monopoly on cable broadband services for consumers.
Although the system being used is the one originally designed for cable television, using cable internet does not require the user to also pay for cable TV or cable telephone services. However, in many cases bundling such packages will result in savings.
