ADSL broadband

ADSL broadband is broadband through your phone line. It's accessible to over 95% of UK homes (2008).

ADSL is the technology behind this type of broadband connection, but essentially ADSL can be considered to be 'standard broadband'.

Compare our best-selling ADSL broadband packages below.

If required, you can check your ADSL availability with our postcode checker.

Sort packages by: All packages Bestsellers		Speed	Downloads	Contract	Monthly cost
#1	BT Anywhere Free wireless Home Hub and Hub Phone & BT ToGo phone More info…	up to 8Mb	10Gb	18months	£23.99 (first 3 months)Sign up »
2	O2 Broadband Standard Free wireless router. Discounted for all existing O2 customers More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£7.50 (£12.50 for non-O2 customers)Sign up »
3	BT Option 1 Free wireless HomeHub & off-peak UK calls. Optional BT Vision TV More info…	up to 8Mb	5Gb	18months	£7.95 (first 3 months)Sign up »
4	TalkTalk Talk2 International Inclusive broadband & off-peak calls. Sign up on 0800 049 7864 More info…	up to 8Mb	40Gb	18months	£2.95 (first 3 months, line rental £10.50)Sign up »
5	Tiscali Option 1 Free wireless router, connection & weekend calls More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£4.49 (first 3 months)Sign up »
6	Be Unlimited Free wireless modem, static IP & technical support More info…	up to 24Mb	Unlimited	3months	£18.00 Sign up »
7	O2 Broadband Premium Free wireless router. Discounted for all existing O2 customers More info…	up to 16Mb	Unlimited	12months	£10.00 (£15 for non-O2 customers)Sign up »
8	BT Option 2 Free wireless HomeHub & off-peak UK calls. Optional BT Vision TV More info…	up to 8Mb	8Gb	18months	£13.99 (for 3 months)Sign up »
9	Tiscali Talk 1 Free wireless router, line rental & weekend calls More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£14.99 Sign up »
10	PlusNet Option 1 Free modem & overnight usage More info…	up to 8Mb	1Gb	1month	£9.99 Sign up »
11	Madasafish Max & Talk Free connection, wireless kit & static IP. Line rental & off-peak calls included More info…	up to 8Mb	5Gb	12months	£19.98 (first 6 months)Sign up »
12	AOL Broadband Wireless Flexi Free wireless router. No minimum contract. Sign up on 0800 049 1283 More info…	up to 8Mb	10Gb	1month	£4.99 (first 3 months, price can vary on area)Sign up »
13	Be Value Free wireless modem & technical support More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£14.00 Sign up »
14	Virgin Media Bundle 3 (ADSL) Non-cable package. Free wireless router, evening & weekend calls More info…	up to 1Mb	Unlimited	12months	£9.99 Sign up »
15	Sky Mid Free wireless router & free security suite More info…	up to 8Mb	8Gb	12months	£5.00 (existing Sky TV customers)Sign up »
16	Tiscali Option 2 Free wireless router & free connection More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£6.49 (first 3 months)Sign up »
17	Madasafish Max Free connection, wireless kit & static IP More info…	up to 8Mb	5Gb	12months	£9.99 (first 6 months)Sign up »
18	Orange Home Starter Free off-peak landline calls & wireless modem More info…	up to 2Mb	6Gb	18months	£6.00 (first 3 months)Sign up »
19	PlusNet Option 2 Free wireless router & 120 minutes VoIP talk More info…	up to 8Mb	15Gb	1month	£14.99 Sign up »
20	Orange Home Max Free line rental, free calls, VoIP & wireless LiveBox modem More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	18months	£12.00 (first 3 months)Sign up »
21	O2 Broadband Ultimate Free wireless router. Discounted for all existing O2 customers More info…	up to 20Mb	Unlimited	12months	£15.00 (£20 for non-O2 customers)Sign up »
22	AOL Broadband Wireless Free month, wireless router & off-peak calls. Sign up on 0800 049 1283 More info…	up to 8Mb	10Gb	18months	£4.99 (for 3 months, price can vary on area)Sign up »
23	Sky Max Free wireless router & security suite More info…	up to 16Mb	Unlimited	12months	£10.00 (existing Sky TV customers)Sign up »
24	BT Option 3 Free wireless HomeHub, HubPhone & off-peak UK calls. Optional BT Vision TV More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	18months	£18.99 (for 3 months)Sign up »
25	Orange Home Select Free wireless modem, calls to UK landlines & 30 countries More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	18months	£10.00 (first 3 months)Sign up »
26	Eclipse Home Lite Free to switch & free static IP More info…	up to 8Mb	1Gb	18months	£9.95 (first 3 months)Sign up »
27	Virgin Media Bundle 2 (ADSL) Non-cable package. Free wireless router, evening & weekend calls More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£14.99 Sign up »
28	AOL Broadband Wireless (Free Laptop) Free laptop worth £500 & wireless router. Sign up on 0800 049 1283 More info…	up to 8Mb	40Gb	24months	£9.99 (first 3 months, price can vary on area)Sign up »
29	Virgin Media Bundle 1 (ADSL) Non-cable package. Free wireless router, Virgin Free TV box & anytime calls More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£19.99 Sign up »
30	Tiscali Talk & TV 1 Free wireless router, line rental, weekend calls, set top box & TV variety pack with over 60 channels More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£15.99 (first 3 months)Sign up »
31	Tiscali Talk & TV 2 Free wireless router, line rental, weekend calls, set top box & TV variety pack with over 60 channels More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£19.99 (first 3 months)Sign up »
32	TalkTalk Talk3 International Inclusive broadband & anytime calls. Sign up on 0800 049 7864 More info…	up to 8Mb	40Gb	18months	£5.00 (first 3 months, line rental £10.50)Sign up »
33	Eclipse Home Select Free router, setup & static IP More info…	up to 8Mb	10Gb	12months	£17.95 Sign up »
34	Be Pro Free wireless modem, static IP & technical support. Up to 2.5Mb upload More info…	up to 24Mb	Unlimited	3months	£22.00 Sign up »
35	Demon Home 8000 Free setup & modem More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£17.99 Sign up »
36	Eclipse Home Pro Free wireless router, switch & static IP More info…	up to 8Mb	50Gb	12months	£29.95 Sign up »
37	UK Online Lite 33:1 contention ratio & free email address More info…	up to 2Mb	Unlimited	12months	£14.99 Sign up »
38	PlusNet Option 3 Free wireless router & 240 minutes anytime VoIP talk More info…	up to 8Mb	30Gb	1month	£19.99 Sign up »
39	Madasafish Max Plus Free connection, wireless kit and static IP More info…	up to 8Mb	20Gb	12months	£19.99 (first 6 months)Sign up »
40	Toucan Surf 2 Free weekend UK calls & modem More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£14.99 Sign up »
41	Namesco Bronze Free router. Extra bandwidth for a small fee More info…	up to 512Kb	1Gb	1month	£10.95 Sign up »
42	Post Office Broadband Standard Free off-peak calls, line rental & modem More info…	up to 8Mb	5Gb	12months	£21.95 (incl line rental)Sign up »
43	DST Option 4 Free anytime UK calls & free USB modem More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	1month	£16.95 Sign up »
44	Demon HomeOffice 8000 Free setup, modem & static IP More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£22.99 Sign up »
45	Madasafish Max Premier Free connection, wireless kit and static IP More info…	up to 8Mb	50Gb	12months	£25.99 (first 6 months)Sign up »
46	DST Option 4 Pro Free anytime UK calls & free router More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	1month	£29.95 Sign up »
47	Tiscali Talk 2 Free wireless router, line rental & anytime calls More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£19.99 Sign up »
48	UK Online Pro 20:1 contention ratio & free connection More info…	up to 8Mb	Unlimited	12months	£19.99 Sign up »
49	UK Online Premier 20:1 contention ratio & free connection More info…	up to 16Mb	Unlimited	12months	£24.99 Sign up »
50	Namesco Silver Free router & connection. Extra bandwidth for a small fee More info…	up to 2Mb	1Gb	1month	£12.95 Sign up »
51	Toucan Surf 1 Free weekend UK calls and modem More info…	up to 512Kb	Unlimited	12months	£13.99 Sign up »
52	Namesco Gold Free wireless router & connection. Extra bandwidth for a small fee More info…	up to 8Mb	1Gb	1month	£14.95 Sign up »
53	Namesco Platinum Free wireless router & connection. Extra bandwidth for a small fee More info…	up to 2Mb	1Gb	1month	£19.95 Sign up »
54	Namesco Platinum+ Free wireless router & connection. Extra bandwidth for a small fee More info…	up to 8Mb	1Gb	1month	£24.95 Sign up »

ADSL broadband explained

There’s a lot of jargon banded around when it comes to broadband and sometimes what you want to know is what exactly it is that the tech-speak actually means. Well, first things first, one of the most elemental things to get to grips with is the type of connection you can receive.

ADSL stands for:

Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line - not that that makes anything much clearer!

How it works:

ADSL is the name given to a broadband connection which works through the copper wires of your existing phone line.
When ADSL broadband is installed a microfilter is plugged into your phone connection which separates the frequency of your phone line from that of your broadband connection and it is this that allows you to surf the web whilst chatting on the phone.
ADSL connection comes through the BT phone line network, direct to your house, so it is the most popular type of broadband available.
All the technology is already put in place so connecting up is really simple and the service is available right across the country.

ADSL Deals

It is also with an ADSL connection that you can get the best deals on broadband.
Because the majority of ISPs operate an ADSL service there is hot competition on the market and that means low prices.
If you play your cards right you could also benefit from bonus features such as free hardware, free landline calls and deluxe security software.

Although you won’t receive the ultra-fast speeds available with a cable connection, ADSL broadband technology continues to develop and ISPs such as Virgin put an emphasis on speed, stating that its service is “three times faster that AOL, BT and Tiscali”. The more urban an area you live in the faster your connection will be but even in remote areas ISPs can bring you speeds of up to 8Mb.

If cost is your main concern then ADSL broadband providers such as Virgin, Talk Talk, Tiscali and BT offer packages for less than £10 per month. If you’re a frequent user and want to make more of the internet then pay attention to the speedy connections with unlimited download allowances that are offered by ‘all-rounder’ ISPs such as Virgin.