What is an internet provider?

Internet providers are companies who supply internet connections to consumers and businesses. They are usually referred to as Internet Service Providers or ISPs. In such a competitive market, it pays for ISPs to be flexible. Most offer several types of broadband and various bundles for each.

Bundles

Broadband bundles are packages that offer broadband along with other utilities such as digital TV, mobile and home phone.

• BT - Great broadband, digital TV and home phone packages.
• TalkTalk - Good value international calling deals and excellent broadband service mark TalkTalk out as one of the UK's best providers.
• Virgin Media - The only Internet provider offering quad-packages i.e. those that include broadband, digital TV, home and mobile phone in one bundle. Its flagship 100Mb and 50Mb broadband products are the fastest around.
• Sky - Premium TV, including Premiership football and box office movies, makes Sky broadband TV packages a brilliant option for sports and film fans.

Home

The most common type of broadband, home broadband packages are offered by nearly all ISPs.

• O2 - Straightforward, easy to understand broadband packages make O2 a popular choice for those looking to sign up to broadband packages.
• BT - The best-known Internet provider in the UK. BT offers great deals and excellent devices such as the HomeHub router.
• TalkTalk - Famous for excellent home phone and broadband deals, TalkTalk’s popularity has grown a great deal in the past 12 months.

Cable

Cable broadband is the newest, fastest and most reliable type of home connection, with download speeds of up to 100Mbps.

• Virgin Media – currently offering the fastest cable package in the UK, alongside television and call deals.
• BT - The best-known internet provider in the UK, BT offers a 40Mbps cable broadband package with lots of great deals on home phone calls and TV. BT also offers the BT HomeHub router free with its packages.

Mobile

Mobile Broadband is portable broadband for those on the go. Mobile broadband is accessed by plugging a mobile dongle/modem into the USB port of your PC or laptop. Once inserted, broadband connectivity is accessible in any area where there is mobile phone coverage.

All internet providers now offer mobile alternatives to their packages. Click here to compare mobile internet providers.

• Vodafone - Offering both business and consumer packages, Vodafone is among the UK's most popular mobile broadband internet providers.
• Three - With mobile broadband contract deals starting at just £10 a month, this mobile broadband internet provider offers great value for money.
• T-Mobile - "Works like a dream" according to 9/10 T-Mobile mobile broadband customers.
• Orange - Sleek and tasteful, Orange's mobile broadband modem makes connecting to the internet quick and easy.
• O2 - O2 is famed for its great free laptop options and keenly priced dongle offers.

Click here to compare mobile broadband providers.