Broadband services available

There are five major types of broadband service available to you.

These are:

ADSL via BT telephone lines – coverage around 98% of properties, but with significant limitations on bandwidth. Speeds improve greatly when BT replaces some of the cable with fibre, which is currently happening in many urban locations
Cable broadband from Virgin Media – coverage limited to 40% of properties
3G and 3G plus broadband from the mobile phone operators – coverage limited and varies between the various suppliers. Uses a USB device to connect your laptop or PC to the appropriate mobile phone network
Wireless broadband from Call Flow Solutions or VFast – coverage limited to specific locations and affected by a number of issues such as trees between the transmitter and the customer
Satellite broadband available from a number of suppliers – nearly 100% coverage, but expensive and with some technical limitations.

How can I check which services I can get?

You will need to enter your telephone number and/or post-code on the various availability checkers listed below.

Please note that predicted speeds are just that and you may get a slower (or faster) speed in practice.

Availability checkers

ADSL via BT

The speed you should take note of is the ADSLMax speed, and potentially the ADSL2+ speed if your exchange offers this.

If the predicted speed is 512Kbps, 256Kbps or very unlikely you may not be able to receive a broadband service via this route.

BT Infinity

Infinity is the new superfast broadband service, promising speeds of up to 76Mbps, and is being implemented at some UK exchanges. You can check whether Infinity is available to you by typing your home telephone number into the checker.

Cable broadband from Virgin Media

Virgin Media offer both cable broadband and services via ADSL on BT phone lines. If you can receive a cable-based service the checker will actually state this, and your predicted speed will be shown as 30Mbps, 60Mbps or 100Mbps depending on location.

3G broadband from mobile phone network

Note that the various providers have quite different coverage. The checkers are fairly theoretical, and you should be aware that coverage inside properties is generally restricted.

Wireless broadband from Call Flow Solutions

Call Flow Solutions’ wireless coverage is mainly in south Kent and east Sussex. The company also offers higher speed services based on BT telephone lines in a few locations

Wireless broadband from VFast

VFast coverage is largely in east Kent

Note that availability is affected by “line of sight” i.e. if your property cannot “see” the transmitter because there are trees in the way, it is in a dip or over the brow of a hill then coverage may well be poor or impossible.