Broadband deals?

[T4tomo]

So do Truespeed, Country Broadband, B4RN, etc. ie not over OpenReach cables.

Gigaclear lays its own too.

Yes there some niche regional players that target gaps in the openreach network. Do your research before using though.....

The other options are Starlink or a 5G router if you have reliable mobile signal but no FTTP locally

 

[Binky]

OK, thanks all for info.

Just got off phone to Plusnet and they have given me a very good deal, basically £5 a month cheaper than currently and as good if not better than any others I've seen.

It definitely pays to talk...

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Yes there some niche regional players that target gaps in the openreach network. Do your research before using though.....

The other options are Starlink or a 5G router if you have reliable mobile signal but no FTTP locally

Gigaclear is centrally contracted to deliver a network to secondary/rural locations.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Not sure unreliable broadband's a thing anymore, is it?

I guess it depends on what region you are in and what the infrastructure is like. I've been with VM twice, and both times there were widespread total outages for 15-24 hours. But if it's a local issue (i.e. if they have to dig up the road and install a new junction, which they then cover and seal with some sort of jelly) then it's not really the supplier at fault, more the historical infrastructure. But of course that's not a regular problem.

Customer service-wise, I've had exceptionally good and exceptionally poor service from VM, Utility Warehouse and Vodafone. VM actually sent us a new router when our old one was blinking red (even though fully functional) which they didn't have to do. So we are quite pleased with them so far. In contrast, utility warehouse signed my dad up and then kept him waiting 12 days with no internet because of some document he didn't have, and they didn't seem very knowlegable about anything on the phone. But they were fine when I dealt with them 5 years ago.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Any idea what your 5G Three and Vodafone mobile data reception is like at home?

Mr Switch on HotUKDeals (regular poster) posted a promo code deal for another SIM sold by Scancom, this one was a one-off £60 payment for 1000GB per month until Feb '28 iirc, quota renews on 7th each month.

There's been a few 5G routers posted recently.

We spent £190 on a TP-Link nx200 router from Amazon and a 500GB SIM for £90 back in December '25, expires July '28. Bit tight with our streaming, PS5 game downloads plus pc gaming, but yet to use all a month's quota and it saving us hundreds of squids over our old £32.50 pcm NowTV landline phone and BB.

Plus heck of a lot quicker, 26/6Mbps gone to ~500/50 with same sub 30ms latency for gaming.

 

[Binky]

Where I live only get 4G and for my mobile use 10GB a month is ample.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Where I live only get 4G and for my mobile use 10GB a month is ample.

Same here - although I don't even know if my phone could receive 5G. I just pay £5 a month for 10GB (my 'anniversary present from its previous 5G), 1000 minutes of calls and texts - I only ever use 1GB even if I leave the phone on 4G all month
I just checked and the extra 5GB isn't permanent - No worries as I'd never use it, I guess it's a 'carrot' to generate a future sale.