no phone line active - options for broadband?

antwilson

Hi,

We are moving into our first house tomorrow:j

The house doesnt have an active phone line. What are the best options on how to get broadband? Do we have to go with BT and pay there line rental and broadband charges?

Is there no way we can move onto a cheaper provider like tiscali without having to pay the £125 connection fee + £70 cancellation ive read about?

Or would it just be as good to get mobile broadband and save the hassle?
Vodafone seem to be doing an upto 7.8mbps mobile broadband so could go with that?

Does virgin non cable broadband/phone/tv require a bt line active, or can they activate etc?

Wish i could have cable

deklan99

You would need an active BT line to get non-cable broadband. You don't have to get BT to install it or pay them the line rental, many providers will arrange installation for you. Of the cheap deals only Tiscali might do some kind of line installations.
Currently BT will install a line for £30, 18 month contract various Ts + Cs http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/public/notifs/22-04-2008/Notice08_boo/NotificationPeriodImpl267403FrameworkImpl267413.htm#FrameworkImpl267413

greyster

What will reconnecting to BT cost me?
If your house has had a BT phone service in the recent past and the line still has a dialling tone, it's likely it won't cost you anything to get your line working again (you can check for dial tone by plugging a telephone into the BT socket and lifting the receiver). You'll just have to pay your line rental (either monthly or quarterly), cost of calls, and for any additional services you require from BT.
If no dialling tone exists on the line, or if it is a reconnection as a result of a previous Home Highway line, or if you have been disconnected for non-payment, there will be a standard connection charge to pay. How to order
Please note that some properties (e.g. new property developments) may have a white BT socket installed which has not yet been connected. In this case the standard connection charge will also apply.
All reconnections are subject to a credit check, as a result of which customers may be required to pay a deposit. A minimum term of 12 months will apply.
Full details of our connection charges and Terms & Conditions are available here (opens in a new window).

Non Cable virgin will ask you to have a BT Line.
However you do have another choice - 3G broadband. The mobile operators sell USB 3G sticks that will give you broadband to your PC. The added bonus is that you can take the stick anywhere for instant 3G broadband, within 3G areas. If you live in a town or city you will most definitely have 3G and these areas are growing. The price is slightly dearer because its a newer technology but at least you have an alternative if you don't need/want a BT line. Try T-Mobile or 3 - they are merging their 3G network at the moment so they are the ones I would go for.