UK Online Lite

• Poor Value 2Mb UKOnline broadband
• Unlimited downloads (fair use policy applies)
• Lots of useful extras
• Free connection (though you have to buy a router)
• 24/7 freephone support line

UK Online broadband review: Lite

DESPITE what has become a shockingly high price tag UKOnline's excellent reputation for service makes the UKOnline Lite (up to 2Mb) home broadband package worth a look.

Lower than normal contention ratio

With UKOnline Lite Broadband, your line will run at up to 2mb with a lower-than-standard 33 to 1 contention ratio (provided you are in a UKOnline supported area - otherwise it's a 50:1 contention ratio).

This means that, at most, there will only ever be 32 other users on your line at the same time.

Most other broadband providers funnel 50 users down a single line as standard so you're almost certain to notice the difference.

This is ideal if you are connecting several computers to your UKOnline broadband connection or you're downloading large files - such as music and video files - regularly.

If you want even lower contion ratios (20:1), you should take a look at UKOnline's other two packages: UKOnline Pro and UKOnline Premier, which are marginally more expensive.

Cheapest broadband deal?

However, UKOnline might have been offering one of the cheapest broadband deals back in the day but their pricing has stubbornly refused to move with the times.

This one of the UK's most pricey broadband packages and we're also unimpressed that despite advertising a free connection and requiring a 12-month contract UkOnline still make you to pay £49.99 for a Netgear wireless router, whether you want one or not.

On top of that, up to 2Mb broadband is practically an endangered species these days; most providers will throw in a faster speed with their cheaper connections.

Top marks for customer service and support

Having said that, UKOnline are the kings of customer service.

They boast a 24 hours-a-day freephone customer support line with a free UK-based support team and pick up 90% of calls within 30 seconds..

Still at that price and with those speeds it would be suicidal not to look after the customers they do have. In today's market you'd be much better off going elsewhere.

A little more detail...

Broadband		Special Note...
Package:	Lite	-
Connection:	ADSL	Telephone line
Max Speed:	Up to 2Mb
Usage Limit:	Unlimited	Fair usage policy applies
Totally Unlimited:	No
Hardware:	Netgear Wireless router	-
Internet Security:	Included free	Free McAfee Internet Security Suite for first 12 months.
Online Gaming:	All major consoles supported