24 month minimum!

valiant24

I live in a rural part of England.   Our village doesn't have fibre internet, but it is "imminent" under a government scheme ("Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS)") to upgrade the worst communities.

The provider chosen by CDS is Airband, and they say that the work is almost all complete and should be available in Q3 2024.   However, they have repeatedly missed target dates since it was first supposed to be available in 2022, so I am taking it all with a large dose of salt.

Meantime, I need to internet enable a house that's just been renovated, with a copper-wire service.   Until recently Now TV were offering a month-to-month contract but that seems to have been withdrawn, and of the (very few) companies prepared to offer service, Sky is the least expensive at £23/month for 5Mbps service.

BUT ... minimum contract is 24 months!!!!!   And Airband's cheaper fibre service might be available very soon and I won't be able to get out of the contract I have just signed.

So my question is: is anyone aware of any providers still offering month-to-month service?   I have little hope as I can't find one via Google/switch services.

Thanks
V

Peter999_2

NOW broadband used to offer a monthly rolling contract but it looks like they stopped it due to many problems.

My friend is in the same boat, Virgin have installed fibre in his street a few months back but no sign of it being available to order.   His current contract runs out next month and the price doubles unless he signs a 24 month contract.

As the OP says, if anyone knows of a PAYG monthly broadband connection please let us know.

Patr100

Some of  the smaller ISPs will offer this for me eg (in London)  eg Uno have a monthly contract option.
I don't have any experience with them as currently contracted to PlusNet but they are an example.
https://www.uno.uk/
However you will often pay more per month  for the option of pulling out sooner of course.

Or look at the Top 10 IPS at this site to check your options
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/review/top10.php

but you will have to input your own address at each ISP to see if they cover your area.

flaneurs_lobster

How's your mobile signal? Any chance you could use 4/5g mobile broadband, together with a month by month data SIM?

WillPS

flaneurs_lobster said:

How's your mobile signal? Any chance you could use 4/5g mobile broadband, together with a month by month data SIM?

This is a decent shout.

I agree that it's ridiculous that 24 months has become more-or-less unavoidable for ISP contracts. I read somewhere that it's being driven by the cost of initial fibre installs but that doesn't really explain why ISPs need to stipulate it where fibre has already been installed or even moreso is not available.

onomatopoeia99

Sounds like you currently have ADSL given the 5Mbps throughput you mention.  The company that I use offer 1 month minimum term on ADSL. They do not offer a voice service over the copper pair so for phone calls you'll need a mobile or to use VOIP.

https://www.aa.net.uk/broadband/home1/adsl-prices/

valiant24

flaneurs_lobster said:

How's your mobile signal? Any chance you could use 4/5g mobile broadband, together with a month by month data SIM?

Hi.  I've considered this.  Only Vodafone is any good, and only upstairs.  I could buy a mobile router and send the signal downstairs via repeaters.   In my experience it's less reliable than even copper-wire broadband.

valiant24

WillPS said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

How's your mobile signal? Any chance you could use 4/5g mobile broadband, together with a month by month data SIM?

This is a decent shout.

I agree that it's ridiculous that 24 months has become more-or-less unavoidable for ISP contracts. I read somewhere that it's being driven by the cost of initial fibre installs but that doesn't really explain why ISPs need to stipulate it where fibre has already been installed or even moreso is not available.

WillPS said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

How's your mobile signal? Any chance you could use 4/5g mobile broadband, together with a month by month data SIM?

This is a decent shout.

I agree that it's ridiculous that 24 months has become more-or-less unavoidable for ISP contracts. I read somewhere that it's being driven by the cost of initial fibre installs but that doesn't really explain why ISPs need to stipulate it where fibre has already been installed or even moreso is not available.

Just to be clear, I am taking out the contract because fibre isn't even available ... it's all still copper wire!

V10MP

flaneurs_lobster said:

How's your mobile signal? Any chance you could use 4/5g mobile broadband, together with a month by month data SIM?

I did this exact thing for a month with Smarty 5G mobile. It was £17 a month unlimited wish I kept it instead of getting broadband from NOW as it was even faster than their 35MB line

flashg67

valiant24 said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

How's your mobile signal? Any chance you could use 4/5g mobile broadband, together with a month by month data SIM?

Hi.  I've considered this.  Only Vodafone is any good, and only upstairs.  I could buy a mobile router and send the signal downstairs via repeaters.   In my experience it's less reliable than even copper-wire broadband.

I used a 4g router until a WISP provider was available (I'm rural too with no chance of fibre yet) and it was often faster than the current service. I kept the router with a smallish data allowance as I WFH and it works great as a back up. Worth a go IMO - at least you can move the router around for the best signal. I added homeplugs to mine for other areas in the house

JSmithy45AD

valiant24 said:

I live in a rural part of England.   Our village doesn't have fibre internet, but it is "imminent" under a government scheme ("Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS)") to upgrade the worst communities.

The provider chosen by CDS is Airband, and they say that the work is almost all complete and should be available in Q3 2024.   However, they have repeatedly missed target dates since it was first supposed to be available in 2022, so I am taking it all with a large dose of salt.

Meantime, I need to internet enable a house that's just been renovated, with a copper-wire service.   Until recently Now TV were offering a month-to-month contract but that seems to have been withdrawn, and of the (very few) companies prepared to offer service, Sky is the least expensive at £23/month for 5Mbps service.

BUT ... minimum contract is 24 months!!!!!   And Airband's cheaper fibre service might be available very soon and I won't be able to get out of the contract I have just signed.

So my question is: is anyone aware of any providers still offering month-to-month service?   I have little hope as I can't find one via Google/switch services.

Thanks
V

I presume the likes of POP or Onestream aren't available there? They do 12 month contracts rather than rolling monthly but given Airband aren't active yet they may be an option. You can always pay off the outstanding minimum term if fibre comes quicker than that and they're up to £5 a month cheaper than that Sky offer.