A Guide To Cheap, No-Contract Broadband

Fibre broadband; most of us have heard the term but how many of us actually know what it is? In this guide, we’ll take you back to the very start. Looking at what sets broadband apart from its predecessor dial-up, why you shouldn’t dial down with inflexible fibre broadband 12-month contracts and how you can get cheap, no contract fibre broadband. Sounds like your kind of deal?

Let’s get stuck in!

A Brief History of Fibre

The 2000s saw massive headway in how the internet was delivered to us and the ways we used it. With the advent of the iPhone and websites like YouTube, the emergence of public WiFi and broadband was inevitable. Those times of listening to the dial-up noises of our ethernet-bound computers are long gone.

By 2007, half of UK internet users were connected to broadband. So, how did it all change to accommodate increased usage? Well, it’s the sum of small parts that make a whole lot of difference. The technology behind it appears to come from the realm of science fiction. Inside the cables are tubes not much thicker than human hair and reflective on the inside. These tubes transfer data in flashes of light that reflect to points where the information they contain can be interpreted by equipment at the other end.

Data at the Speed of Light?

One of the main concerns of customers looking for a new broadband deal is whether it’ll be fast enough. The truth is fibre broadband is delivered in one of two ways; FTTC and FTTP (or FTTH). The latter offers much quicker broadband. The reason for this is due to how broadband is delivered to your home or business.

FTTC stands for Fibre To The Cabinet. Those green cabinets you see on the streets are basically points where fibre optic cables end. Copper cables then carry the data on the last leg of the journey to your home. This older method of delivery is what makes FTTC slower than FTTP. Fibre To The Premises or Home (FTTH) delivers data in cables directly connected to your premises. Whilst not as widespread as FTTC, FTTP is a common feature of newer properties.

Does this mean you need a new property to get ultrafast broadband? Not necessarily. Although there are a lot of variables to consider. Such as how far away your property is from the roadside cabinet. Downstream and upstream connection speeds slow down the further away you are. Your usage is also important when considering fibre broadband.

A rate of 10Mbps or 11Mbps is good enough for low usage households. So, if you use the internet for browsing or online shopping, an FTTC connection will have you covered up to 800 metres away from the cabinet. For households of more than two people, with multiple devices connected to the internet, streaming and gaming, a minimum speed of 30Mbps is recommended.

Check out your local speed with our checker. Our basic packages range from 14-18Mbps. 

Switch to FTTP?

That depends on whether FTTP is available in your area. Providers such as Sky, BT and TalkTalk provide FTTP. The best way to find out is to simply ask your service provider. If they don’t, there’s no need to panic! You don’t necessarily need FTTP to get the speediest fibre broadband. Our ultrafast packages range up to speeds of 330Mbps.

A landline is needed and we can include this in the package. Alternatively, we can use an existing landline provided by another telecom supplier. Head to our FAQ page for more general information on our services.

Contract or No-Contract Broadband?

As fibre optic broadband becomes increasingly widespread, you’d think that service providers would offer competitive prices. Instead, they offer deals that include bundles we think should already be available to the customer. This is the main reason people constantly shop around for a better deal.

To get around this, service providers offer temporary discounts to new customers, such as cheap 12-month fibre broadband or a speed boost for 18 months. Some contracts now go up to 24 months! It’s a simple yet effective way of luring people in and trapping them for a set period of time. Which begs the question; if they can afford to offer it temporarily, why can’t they offer it to you forever?

Before you sign up with a service provider, you should definitely check that the speed of their service is sufficient enough for your household’s (or business) usage. The last thing you want to do is get stuck with broadband that isn’t up to scratch.

On a similar note, if you are a loyal customer who has been in a long-term contract with a service provider yet haven’t received any kind of incentive to stick around…it’s time to reconsider your position. After all, who’s providing the service here? You or the service providers?

Get Flexible with Broadband Freedom

What sounds better than cheap fibre broadband 12-month contracts? Cheap fibre broadband no-month contract broadband. That’s right! Why be forced to stay with providers who don’t trust their own services are good enough to keep customers around? Why not give customers the freedom to decide for themselves whether a deal still works for them or not?

No-contract broadband offers lightning-fast speeds without the hassle of hidden fees, having to shop around for better deals and is ideal for tenants in rented properties. Do a quick search online to see whether any of the big broadband service providers offer no contract deals. You’ll be surprised…

What’s that? Yes! Sky, Virgin, BT and more all offer zero-month contracts. You’ve never heard of it because they want to trap you into 12-month, 18-month or even 24-month contracts! Take a look at our comparison chart we put together to assist you with making the best decision.

Once you sign up with us at Broadband Freedom, you could choose weekly broadband payments, for a service provided on a rolling monthly agreement which can be cancelled if and when it suits you. Being cheaper doesn’t always afford flexibility.