TalkTalk is offering six months free on its award-winning Essentials broadband and home phone deal, as part of a limited period, online only promotion for the super fast, ‘up to 24Mb’ package.

From today (August 18th) customers who sign up online for the Essentials product for 18 months will pay nothing for their broadband service for the first six months of their contract term.

During the introductory period, subscribers will be liable only for a charge of £11.49 per month to cover line rental. Thereafter, a charge of £6.99 applies for broadband.

The offer represents a saving of over £40 on a package that is consistently rated among the best value products available.

Features of Essentials include a broadband connection of up to 24Mb (depending on location) and a monthly download limit of 40GB.

TalkTalk will also provide a free wireless ‘G’ router, so that a single connection can be shared with multiple web enabled devices, and free technical and customer support.

The home telephony facet of the package entitles takers to free evening and weekend calls to all UK landlines, including numbers with the prefix 0870 and 0845.

Free voicemail and privacy features are also on offer, along with the option to nominate 16 mobile and international numbers and get a ten per cent discount on calls.

Customers requiring additional services can sign up for add-ons, dubbed Boosts, for an extra monthly fee.

Among the options on offer is the Mobile Saver Boost, which provides half price calls to mobile phones.

Heavy downloaders can opt for the Mega Download Boost. This doubles Essentials customers’ download limit to 80GB per month.

Earlier today, TalkTalk was nominated in five categories for the 2010 Top 10 Broadband Awards.

Prizes the broadband provider is competing for include Best Home Broadband Package, Best Broadband and Home Phone, Fastest Home Broadband and Broadband Innovation.