NOW WiFi Broadband Deals
NOW Broadband offers a big mixed bag of different packages which you can sign up to alongside its excellent and varied range of TV options.
NOW launched in 2012 as an internet television provider, giving customers access to Sky TV content without long contracts or an ugly satellite dish. In 2016, it moved into home broadband and differentiated itself from its parent company, Sky.
After a ‘broadband only’ deal or a bundled TV and broadband package, but put off by high costs and the prospect of long contracts? You might have struck gold with NOW!
What broadband packages does NOW offer?
NOW Broadband uses the BT Openreach network to deliver its fixed-line home broadband packages. However, unlike many other broadband providers on the Openreach network (which includes the likes of Sky Broadband, BT, Plusnet, TalkTalk and Vodafone), there’s plenty of choice when it comes to contract length. You’re not forced to sign up to a lengthy 18 or 24-month contract if you don’t want to. In fact, many NOW broadband packages are available on a rolling monthly contract (these are sometimes referred to as ‘no contract broadband deals’).
You have several options, depending on how you use your internet connection at home and the download speeds you need.
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What is Openreach?
Openreach is the company that maintains the former British Telecom Network used for the majority of broadband and phone services. If a repair or installation is required on your NOW Broadband service, it’s Openreach who will send an engineer, not NOW.
More than 650 service providers using the Openreach network. That’s the majority of the UK’s broadband providers. This includes Sky, TalkTalk and BT. The exception to this is Virgin Media - it uses its own, separate cable network.
NOW Brilliant Broadband
Brilliant Broadband is NOW’s entry-level, standard ADSL package. It’s also the cheapest at around £20 per month. This is regardless of whether you sign up for a year or one month!
However, this would only really be suitable if you’re a light internet user.
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What does ADSL mean?
ADSL stands for ‘Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line’. It’s broadband technology that allows the transfer data across regular telephone lines. You can make calls at the same time as being connected to the internet.
An ADSL line will, at minimum, allow for a broadband connection of up to 8Mb. These days, that’s pretty slow and won’t allow you to do much other than emailing or basic web searches.
ADSL2+ is now available at nearly all exchanges across the UK with slightly faster data transfer rates of around 10-11Mb.
NOW Fab Fibre Broadband
This standard broadband package offers average download speeds of 36 Mbps for a monthly price of £20-25. This will be quick enough for TV streaming without many hiccups. It’s also a good speed if there are a couple of you using the internet at the same time.
NOW Super Fibre Broadband
With NOW Super Fibre Broadband, you can expect download speeds of around 63Mbps and upload speeds of 19Mb. This is the fastest broadband service that most people across the UK are almost guaranteed to be able to sign up to, without access to a full fibre network. This package is great value for money. Oddly, you won’t really have to pay much more to boost your package up from ‘Fab Fibre’.
For more information about broadband performance and choosing the right package, read our easy guide to broadband speeds.
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What is full fibre broadband?
Full Fibre broadband is also known as ‘Fibre To The Premises’, ‘Fibre To The Home’. This is often shortened to FTTP or FTTH. They’re all the same thing!
Instead of copper telephone wire making up the final part of the journey from that green cabinet on the street, fibre optic cables are installed right up to your home.
It’s amazing the difference in speed this small data journey can have. With full-fibre broadband you can expect to receive speeds of 1Gb+.
The downside is full-fibre is only available to a small percentage of homes in the UK, and it’s taking a good while to get everyone up to speed.
NOW TV add-ons
Don’t forget, NOW started out as a TV provider, and this is still the main draw of signing up to a NOW Broadband package.
Customers can add-on TV memberships to their broadband plans. This gives access to a massive mix of TV channels, including many from Sky. The beauty of doing this is, unlike for the majority of Sky Broadband and TV bundles, you won’t need to install a satellite dish.
The following NOW TV packages are available:
NOW TV Sports Membership
At the time of writing, you could get Sports Membership for under £30 per month on top of your broadband deal.
However, if you don’t think you’d make use of that, and you just want to watch the occasional football match, a Day Membership is also available for one-off payment of under £12. This gives NOW Broadband Customers an easy way to watch sports channels such as Sky Sports Premier League or F1 (including smartphone access) without a lengthy contract.
NOW TV Entertainment Membership
A NOW TV Entertainment Membership includes access to 17 live channels, including Sky Atlantic (for HBO programmes) and Sky Max. As TV deals go, this isn’t too pricey, with an extra monthly cost of £6.99 for a 6-month minimum term. Alternatively, you can sign up to this TV service for £9.99 with no fixed contract.
NOW TV Sky Cinema Membership
Either available with a rolling monthly contract of £9.99, or a 6-month minimum contract of £13.99, bundled in with the Entertainment membership, this provides access to over 1000 films, including the latest blockbusters.
NOW TV Hayu Membership
A good option if you’re keen on your reality TV and need your Real Housewives fix on-demand! A 7-day free trial is available to make sure it’s for you. After this, it’s available as an add-on for £4.99, and you’re free to cancel anytime.
NOW Broadband and Landline bundles
Phone services aren’t the main focus for NOW TV, but line rental is bundled into the cost any NOW Broadband option. This is because your phone line will be used for your broadband service.
When you sign up, you’ll have the option of adding on a couple of call packages.
You can either choose:
- Pay As You Use Calls
- Evening & Weekends (for unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles at evenings and weekends
- Anytime Calls (for unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles)
NOW Broadband coverage and speed
Being able to sign up to a NOW Broadband connection depends on your home being within its network area. However, almost everyone will be able to sign up to a NOW deal in some shape or form.
To see the best broadband deals on offer at the moment, enter your postcode or address into our deals checker. You’ll only be shown the packages available to your property:
Frequently asked questions about NOW WiFi
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Do you need a satellite dish to get NOW TV?
Unlike a lot of Sky Broadband deals, you don’t need to install a satellite dish to make use of NOW TV. All new customers receive a free NOW Hub Two Wi-Fi dual-band broadband router when they sign up.
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Can you get full fibre with NOW Broadband?
NOW Broadband doesn’t offer full fibre broadband. The fastest package you’ll be able to sign up to is NOW Super Fibre. However, as this is available through a standard telephone line, most people in the UK will have access.
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Is NOW WiFi Unlimited?
All NOW Broadband deals are totally unlimited, with no fair use caps or traffic management.
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How much is NOW Broadband?
The prices for NOW are pretty reasonable, and it’s a smart choice if you want to stay flexible. Expect to pay a base rate of around £20-25 per month for your broadband, regardless of whether you sign up for a 12-month contract or a rolling deal. Then, the extras are up to you! Expect to pay a small setup fee upfront before activation.
Expert Summary
NOW Broadband's rolling monthly contracts aren’t for everyone, but they’re a great option for students and those who want a lower commitment and to avoid the hassle of cancellation fees. Even if you aren’t interested in no-contract broadband, NOW TV’s longer-term deals are still good value, combining superfast fibre, unlimited broadband and very flexible and affordable TV bundles.
Unlike other broadband and TV bundle providers, such as Virgin Media and Sky Broadband, you’re more likely to have to pay a setup fee with a NOW Broadband deal. However, this is low at £5, and a small price to pay for the flexibility.
To find out more, read our full NOW Broadband review.