Be Pro Broadband

• Very reasonably priced unlimited 24MB broadband with static IP address
• Fantastic 2.5MB upload speed
• Free Be-box ADSL2+ modem
• Unlimited usage very leniant fair use policy
• Available with a 12 month or 3 month contract.

Be broadband review: Pro

STOP PRESS! Be Unlimited has a very liberal approach to downloading, making this ideal for heavy users concerned about throttling, or extra charges levied by other providers such as Virgin Media.

FOR broadband users who want a little more jet in their 'net, the 24Mb unlimited Be Pro super fast broadband package is perfect.

Who wants to mess around with tardy 8Mb when you can be receiving movies, web pages and large downloads in record-breaking time?

It's no longer the UK's fastest broadband package (Virgin Media's < href="/broadband-packages/virgin-media-broadband-xxl-tv-phone.asp">50Mb XXL package has stolen that crown) but Be's reputation for consistent, reliable service makes it the most attractive of the speedy providers.

While it is unlikely you'll see a full 24Mb speed, reports of speeds in the upper teens are commonplace.

What's more, Be's laissez-faire attitude to download limits make Be Broadband absolutely ideal for heavy downloaders.

Suited for home office

The Be Pro package is especially suited to home office or small business users (but home users - especially gamers - will find it equally fantastic!), and worth noting is the static IP address available, as well as prioritised member support and a 15% discount with the (fantastically-named) on-site IT support company Geeks-on-Wheels.

Best value high speed broadband

Price-wise, the Be Pro package used to be bit of a wallet-cruncher, but the recent price drop has seen it almost halfed in price, making this arguably the best value high-speed broadband package available today.

For cost, speed and reliability, no other broadband package comes close.

Perhaps the only providers at this point offering any competition to Be Broadband are O2 Broadband (no great eureka moment when you learn that O2 and Be are the same company operating under different brands) and Eclipse Internet which has just introduced 14Mbps broadband packages across the board.

Upload speeds

Of particular benefit to online gamers, upload speeds of 2.5Mb make Be Pro possibly the only real contender on the UK market as a serious gamers' package alongside Plusnet's slower, but more optimised Broadband Your Way Pro which is broadband specifically for gaming.

Worth noting though is that if you decide to opt for the 2.5Mb upload speeds, you may have to sacrifice between 1Mb - 3Mb of your download speed to accomplish the higher uploads.

Be Unlimited - Be's slightly cheaper 24Mb, service only has an upload speed of 1.3Mb.

Distant memory

Be Broadband's service received a lot of criticism for poor service and reliability in its first few year of operation but that is all a distant memory three years on.

With no lengthy contract, a constant stream of positive reports pointing out vastly improved reliability, teeth-loosening speeds and a price tag that would make Duncan Ballantyne smile we thoroughly recommend Be Pro broadband.

With the exception of its good brother O2 Broadband, you certainly won't see a price like this for these speeds anywhere else.

3 or 12-month contract

Be Pro is available either on a 12 month or 3 month contract.

As you'd expect, the 12 month version is considerably cheaper per month and also comes without a connection fee.

If you choose to take the three month rolling contract you'll have to pay a £24 connection fee when you sign up. Either way you get a free modem but bear in mind you'll have to return it if you cancel before you've been with Be broadband for less than 12 months.

A little more detail...

Broadband		Special Note...
Package:	Pro	-
Connection:	ADSL2+	Telephone line
Max Speed:	Up to 24Mb	Up to 2.5Mb upload speeds.
Usage Limit:	Unlimited	Fair use policy applies
Totally Unlimited:	No
Hardware:	Be-Box wireless router	Built-in firewall
Internet Security:	Available	Available for £2 per month.
Online Gaming:	All major consoles supported	Ideal for online gaming