Broadband extras to add to your package are usually offered right at the end of placing your order.
If you’ve already gone through the long process of choosing a supplier, package and speed, it can feel overwhelming. Unfortunately, that leaves many customers opting into add-ons and services they don’t actually need.
We’ve broken down the most common broadband extras below, as well as if they’re usually good value. If you’re looking for a personalised recommendation for your broadband package, book a call with one of our Connections Experts today. Our comprehensive checks will find all the options at your property and help you find the broadband plan that’s right for you.
Do I need a landline phone?
There is no requirement for you to have a landline phone in the UK. In fact, in 2020 only 73% of homes reported having a working landline, and that number continues to fall each year. However, many broadband packages still include a landline service by default.
Often, a landline phone comes at no extra cost, but with the option to add inclusive calls, caller ID or other extra features. Unless you use a home phone as your main phone, these add-ons will be an unnecessary extra monthly charge for a service you’ll never use.
Occasionally, it’s worth adding a landline phone to your package even if you don’t plan to use it. Virgin Media sometimes offer big discounts to customers who take a landline phone from them at the same time as their broadband. When comparing packages, look at options with a landline as well as without to see if you could be saving.
One other consideration when deciding to take a landline or not is whether you can call 999 in an emergency. If you don’t have a reliable mobile signal at your property, a landline is an essential safety feature.Â
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Are broadband boost subscriptions really worth it?
There are some internet providers that will offer you the chance to ‘boost’ your broadband for an additional monthly fee. The cost, and what’s included, vary from provider to provider.
Sky’s broadband boost is available for £5 a month in an 18-month subscription. For that price, you get a guarantee of internet access in every room of your house, with boosters if the router signal doesn’t reach, as well as free engineer visits out of hours and daily line checks on your service.
EE’s ‘Smart Wi-fi plus’ is similar. For a £7 a month payment during the 24-month contract, you’ll get a WiFi extender sent to you, with two more following if you still have connection problems.
So, are these add-ons worth it? Over the length of the contracts, you’ll be paying between £90 and £168 depending on the provider.
Whether or not these packages are right for you will depend on whether you prefer to have all your services provided by one supplier, the quality of the signal in your home and if there are any promotions available to you. You may prefer to rely on boosters provided by your supplier over a third-party booster as they’re unlikely to have a similar performance guarantee.
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Which broadband extras are the best value?
Aside from add-ons that reduce the cost of your package, the best value broadband extras are services you are already paying for elsewhere that you can save on. A great example is Netflix – Sky and Virgin Media regularly offer the chance to add Netflix to your package for less than the usual monthly subscription, or even for free.
Another common example is your mobile SIM. As well as broadband, Sky and Virgin Media are two of the top mobile providers in the UK. Adding a SIM to your broadband is usually far cheaper than SIM-only contracts. Virgin Media even regularly run promotions where you can get SIMS with 10GB of monthly data completely free when you take broadband. By combining your SIM and broadband contracts, you can save on both while keeping your existing phone number and all your information.
Read more about broadband in the UK:
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