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Broadband providers in NI??

tara747
Posts: 10,238 Forumite


in N. Ireland
I'm fed up of Virgin Media... used to be cheap, but it's crept up to £45 a month for the basic package!
TV - the basic channels will do. I like having the RTE channels but is there another way to get them in NI without being with Virgin?
Landline - I never use it - obviously I need a phone line for the broadband, but don't need free/cheap calls.
Oh, and I refuse to have Sky (long story).
What are my options??? BT? Talk Talk? Any others?
Thanks in advance
TV - the basic channels will do. I like having the RTE channels but is there another way to get them in NI without being with Virgin?
Landline - I never use it - obviously I need a phone line for the broadband, but don't need free/cheap calls.
Oh, and I refuse to have Sky (long story).
What are my options??? BT? Talk Talk? Any others?
Thanks in advance

Get to 119lbs! 1/2/09: 135.6lbs 1/5/11: 145.8lbs 30/3/13 150lbs 22/2/14 137lbs 2/6/14 128lbs 29/8/14 124lbs 2/6/17 126lbs
Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.73
Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.73
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Comments
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I'm fed up of Virgin Media... used to be cheap, but it's crept up to £45 a month for the basic package!
TV - the basic channels will do. I like having the RTE channels but is there another way to get them in NI without being with Virgin?
Landline - I never use it - obviously I need a phone line for the broadband, but don't need free/cheap calls.
Oh, and I refuse to have Sky (long story).
What are my options??? BT? Talk Talk? Any others?
Thanks in advance
I think virgin are now the only ones to offer broadband without the phone. They have £28.50 - 50mgb.
BT is the most expensive going. Infinity is great but nothing on virgin.
TalkTalk = crap service.
Also if you get fibre from another subscriber that uses BT lines, you pay a £30.00 to move back to virgin or to disconnect.0 -
TV - the basic channels will do. I like having the RTE channels but is there another way to get them in NI without being with Virgin?
RTE is on Freeview if you have a HD freeview Tv/receiver
Look at Plusnet for broadband (owned by BT but with much better customer service)
https://www.plus.net/
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you need a landline ,broadband an aerial or freesat"Do not regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many"0
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Thanks all, very helpful. Will check out Plusnet.
I'm well out of the 12-month initial contract with Virgin, so I can leave. In fact, my ex-housemate's name was on the account, so I'd even be classed as a new customer. I phoned them, and they said the best they could do was £38.99 a month! That's for the basic TV package, plus broadband and phone. Seems expensive, there must be something cheaper available.
If I move to another provider that isn't Virgin or BT, do I still have to get a BT line?
Does Freeview include RTE channels here? I'd like to keep them, but not at £45 a monthGet to 119lbs! 1/2/09: 135.6lbs 1/5/11: 145.8lbs 30/3/13 150lbs 22/2/14 137lbs 2/6/14 128lbs 29/8/14 124lbs 2/6/17 126lbs
Save £180,000 by 31 Dec 2020! 2011: £54,342 * 2012: £62,200 * 2013: £74,127 * 2014: £84,839 * 2015: £95,207 * 2016: £109,122 * 2017: £121,733 * 2018: £136,565 * 2019: £161,957 * 2020: £197,685
eBay sales - £4,559.89 Cashback - £2,309.730 -
Thanks all, very helpful. Will check out Plusnet.
I'm well out of the 12-month initial contract with Virgin, so I can leave. In fact, my ex-housemate's name was on the account, so I'd even be classed as a new customer. I phoned them, and they said the best they could do was £38.99 a month! That's for the basic TV package, plus broadband and phone. Seems expensive, there must be something cheaper available.
If I move to another provider that isn't Virgin or BT, do I still have to get a BT line?
Does Freeview include RTE channels here? I'd like to keep them, but not at £45 a month
I got cashback via topcashback for moving to plusnet .I think I got £53"Do not regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many"0 -
As already mentioned, in order to get RTE, all you need is an aerial and a freeview box with a HD tuner. These can be bought on the high street for very little money. They do not require a broadband connection or a TV package from one of the broadband companies.0
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I have the virgin broadband only for £28.50, had it since the new year, can't fault the service tbhNO MORE HANDWASH GLITCHES PLEASE
:D
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JulieElizabeth wrote: »I have the virgin broadband only for £28.50, had it since the new year, can't fault the service tbh
I have the same. Mine has just crept up to 31.50 (100Mb) which is quite a lot for broadband only. Did you get rid of your land line? I keep meaning to do it, in fact I did a year ago, but they didn't do it.0 -
"Do not regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many"0
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I have freeview telly with a Humax Recorder - it provides RTE basics - so television costs are annual licence, and initial outlay for Humax box - around £150 will get one of those.
I am on BT Broadband fibre - not high speed - around 38mb I think and haggled it down to £15.65 for unlimited download with free caller display. I did this last October and gained a 12 month contract on those terms. I pay line rental saver for 12 months so that was also paid out - about £170 ish.
I do not take any call packages with BT but use 18185 and my calls cost me about £2 a month - 5p connection charge and zero pence per minute.
Just heard BT are writing to everyone with approx 7% price increase in September - early this year, so I may well be haggling again with the threat to cancel my contract because of the price increase.John0
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