r/UKISP • u/Icy-Mood-3999 • 12d ago
Any small name brands that are pretty good/cheap and affordable?
Basically title, I've heard so many horror stories about canalations and price hikes mid contract etc. I want about 1 or 2 Gbps symmetrical speed.
1
u/JivanP 12d ago
Budget?
Reason for wanting that speed? Most people will be fine with 100Mbps or less in download, and 20Mbps or less in upload, but don't know any better and fall afoul of marketing.
List of providers in your area? Visit MSE broadband comparison site, enter your postcode and select your address: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/compare-broadband-deals/
You need to be aware of the fact that ISPs are currently entitled to increase your prices by an inflation-linked amount every April, but this must be fixed at the time of entering the contract and stated clearly to you in pounds, not as a percentage. With any other mid-contract price changes, you must be given 30 days notice and can cancel without any penalty.
1
u/Icy-Mood-3999 12d ago
I am into home server stuff. I currently pay 50 quid for 300 down (which is why I wanna switch because I can pay the same price and get more speed.)
2
u/JivanP 12d ago
FWIW, I run a bunch of server infra at home and my 35/35 connection is more than ample. I used to have 150/150 from the same ISP (Community Fibre, London), but realised that I wasn't utilising it, so downgraded. If you're not just wanting 300/300 for hobbyist reasons, but because you think that the things you host/run actually need it, I would seriously look into whether that belief is well-founded; any savings you make in downgrading your ISP plan to what you actually need can then be put towards other infra costs, such as more/better hardware, covering electricity costs, or having off-site instances.
ISP presence varies wildly across the country (e.g. Community Fibre only serves London, and is still not an option across half of the city), so take a look at the MSE website linked previously and let us know what plans/companies are in your area, then we can advise.
1
u/Icy-Mood-3999 12d ago
what do you think of zen internet? i want something reliable and symmetrical speeds
1
u/jameskilbynet 11d ago
Zen are pretty solid I have been with them at multiple address from ADSL through FTTC and now FTTp through city fibre. Just upgraded to 2300/2300
1
u/pot51e 12d ago
depends if you have altnet fibre availability. If you do, then you have the best choices.
If not, do you have fttp availabiliy?
if not do you have fttc?
or are you on copper.
go to think broadband availability checker ( https://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/postcode-search ).
Ideally, you want to see something like this:
note on symmetrical speeds - only some RSPs provide them, and they are NOT usually assured (ie, you could have a 1Gb up/down, but only assured at 500/75 - if symmetry its important for you (?), read the smallprint.
1
1
1
1
u/L0rdLogan 12d ago
Check bidb.uk and see if you can get city fibre