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The Broadband Genie guide to unlimited broadband deals

What is unlimited broadband?

Unlimited broadband is an internet service that has no data usage limits to restrict how much you can use the connection.

With unlimited broadband you can download, upload, stream, game, tweet, and post as much as you like, and never have to worry about extra fees at the end of the month.

Unlimited broadband is now cheap and widely available, and in this guide, we’ll explain why you should get an unlimited broadband deal.

What is truly unlimited broadband?

Sometimes you may see a broadband package referred to as being “truly unlimited”. What this means is that the service not only has unlimited data but also does not have traffic management or a fair use policy.

We use this term because while most broadband is unlimited, some packages do still have other restrictions. For some, this might not matter, but if you’re planning on using the broadband for anything which might be affected by such limitations you’ll want to make sure you choose a truly unlimited deal.

What is traffic management?

Traffic management is where a provider controls the flow of data over its network, which can reduce the speed.

It may be implemented to ensure that things such as VoIP (Skype, Facetime, etc.) continue working during busy periods. Or it might be used to prevent a small number of users consuming a large amount of bandwidth by ‘throttling’ the speed of certain activities.

Traffic management is most likely to affect file sharing, though each ISP has its own policies so you’ll have to read the small print to see whether traffic management is going to impact you.

To learn more read our dedicated guide to traffic management.

What are fair usage policies?

A Fair Usage Policy (FUP) can be a limit on how much the broadband is allowed to be used, even when the package is advertised as unlimited. They are generally meant as a way for the ISP to manage users who frequently consume a very large amount of data in comparison to the rest of its customers.

FUPs are deliberately vague and do not state a specific data usage figure (otherwise the provider would not be allowed to call its service unlimited). You won’t know you’ve exceeded a FUP until the provider tells you, though as a general rule the vast majority of broadband customers will never breach the limits of a FUP.

Like traffic management, you’ll have to read the small print and decide whether a provider’s FUP terms are likely to be a problem. If so, you’ll find plenty of ISPs which do not have any fair usage restrictions.

For further help, we have a detailed guide to fair usage policies.

Should I get unlimited broadband?

We recommend that everyone gets an unlimited broadband deal.

Unlimited broadband is available from a huge range of providers with a vast choice of packages, everything from cheap deals, to offers with free gifts and rewards, to the very fastest fibre optic broadband.

Unlimited broadband is also cheap. While a data-capped package was once a good way to save money, you can now find unlimited deals from under £20 per month. And you never have to worry about extra broadband charges on your bill.

Unlimited broadband providers - which ISPs offer unlimited internet?

You’ll find a huge choice of unlimited broadband deals on Broadband Genie. Here are all the providers offering unlimited internet:

Truly unlimited broadband providers

The following providers offer broadband without traffic management or fair usage caps. Note that some providers may still apply restrictions to older packages or for customers outside their network, but this will not affect the majority of subscribers.

• BT Broadband
• EE Broadband
• NOW Broadband
• Onestream
• Origin
• Plusnet
• Sky Broadband
• TalkTalk
• Virgin Media
• Vodafone

Unlimited broadband providers

The following ISPs offer unlimited broadband, but also have traffic management and/or fair usage policies. See our broadband provider reviews for more details.

• John Lewis
• Shell Energy Broadband
• SSE

Frequently Asked Questions about unlimited broadband

• Can I get TV and phone with unlimited internet?

  Yes! Unlimited broadband and phone bundles are available from all the providers listed above. You can get unlimited broadband and TV bundles from the following ISPs:

  • BT
  • EE
  • NOW
  • Sky
  • TalkTalk
  • Virgin Media

• Can I get unlimited broadband without a phone line?

  Virgin Media offers unlimited broadband without a phone line. All other providers require you to have an active phone line in order to use their service.

• Could I use unlimited mobile broadband?

  Unlimited mobile broadband is not currently available. However, you can find smartphone contracts with unlimited data, and if your network permits it you can tether a smartphone and use it as a modem.