All You Need To Know About Broadband Bundles

If you’re searching for a better deal on your broadband, a broadband bundle may be worth considering. But how do they work and are they right for you? We take a closer look.

What is a broadband bundle?

A broadband bundle groups together your broadband with other services, such as your TV and/or home phone. When comparing broadband deals you will usually need to select whether you want a ‘broadband only’ deal or whether you’d prefer to have multiple services in one package. 

Broadband bundles are offered by most providers and allow you to pay one monthly fee for the whole package. 

What types of broadband bundle can I choose from?

You will typically be able to choose between:

• Broadband and phone where both your landline and broadband services are combined.
• Broadband and TV a combined broadband and digital TV package
• Broadband, TV and phone where all three services are grouped together. 

What are the pros and cons of a broadband bundle?

One of the biggest advantages of choosing a broadband bundle is that it can often work out cheaper than paying for each service separately. It can also make it much easier to manage bills. Not only will you only have one provider to deal with, you’ll only need to make one payment each month.

Some broadband bundles also offer incentives such as free gifts or cashback.

However, you’ll need to do some careful calculations before deciding whether a broadband bundle is right for you as in some cases it can work out to be more expensive. Whether or not you can save money with a bundle will ultimately depend on your requirements and what type of package you’re after.  

Another risk with a bundle is that you could end up paying for services you don’t need, such as TV channels you never watch. Or you might find you have to pay more to use the landline at certain times of the day or week.

Is a broadband bundle right for me? 

To decide whether a broadband bundle is right for you, you’ll need to decide which services you need. 

Do you want to combine broadband, your landline phone and digital TV into one package, for example? Or do you rarely use your landline, making a broadband and TV bundle more suitable? (Note that you will still need a landline if you’re choosing a standard ADSL broadband connection.)

It’s also important to choose a package that meets your requirements for each service. If you are planning to include digital TV in your bundle, it’s easy to get carried away and choose a deal that includes all movie, kids or sports channels. 

But not only can this increase the price of your bundle, unless you plan to make full use of these channels, you’ll be pouring money down the drain. 

If saving money is important, free services such as Freeview or Freesat (you will need to have a satellite installed if you don’t have one) may be a better alternative. Freeview has more than 70 channels to choose from, while Freesat offers more than 180 channels. 

Both services also provide access to On Demand players such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub.

Alternatively, you may find subscribing separately to services such as Netflix and NowTV offer better value for money. 

Similarly, if you are looking for a broadband bundle that includes your landline, you’ll need to compare the number of free minutes each bundle offers, and whether these are during daytime hours only or in the evenings and weekends. 

If you can’t find a package that matches your requirements or you’ll be paying for services you don’t need, a broadband bundle may not be right for you.

What else should I consider?

When comparing broadband bundles, you’ll also need to consider the type of broadband you need by keeping the following points in mind:

Broadband speeds 

If you have a large household of heavy internet users, a faster broadband service is likely to be the most suitable option. On the other hand, if you live alone or with a partner and you don’t use the internet particularly frequently, you can look for a lower speed (cheaper) option.

The most common – and most basic – type of broadband is ADSL, which uses your phone line. Fibre optic broadband, however, is much faster and more reliable, which can make it more suitable if your household spends a lot of time playing games online or streaming TV. The drawback is it is not available in all areas. 

A handful of providers, including Virgin Media, also offer ultrafast broadband which offers even higher speeds.

Download limits

Most broadband packages are unlimited these days, which can prove vital if your household spends a lot of time on the internet. But it always pays to check whether there is a download limit before selecting a deal. 

Of course, if you don’t use the internet often, a download limit is unlikely to be a problem. 

Contract length 

Contracts are generally available for 12 months, 18 months or 24 months. Longer contracts are often cheaper, but you’ll need to ensure you’re happy to lock in for that length of time before signing up as early termination fees can be high. 

Once the contract ends, the price may shoot up, so it’s worth shopping around for a new deal as soon as possible so that you can switch straight away. 

You may find you are offered an attractive deal to stay put – but it’s worth checking what else is available.

The market regulator, Ofcom, has persuaded leading providers not to increase prices for vulnerable customers who fall out of contract.

Connection charges

Finally, remember to check whether the provider charges a connection fee for setting up your broadband and factor this in to the overall cost.