UK Online Premier Broadband

• Lightning-fast 16MB UKOnline broadband
• No download limits (fair use policy applies)
• Free activation
• Low (20:1) contention ratio
• 24/7/365 UK-based, free-phone tech support

UK Online broadband review: Premier

STOP PRESS: You no longer need to be in a UKOnline supported area to receive this package. Anyone in the UK is eligible for these speeds, but you will sacrifice the low contention ratio for a 50:1 contention ratio, and you have to buy an ADSL2+ modem.

HIGHLY suited to businesses (though fantastic for home users too) and pretty fast too, this up to 16Mb Premier package from BSkyB-owned UKOnline is gets top marks for

A faster broadband deal

This is UKonline's fastest broadband deal and even in these 50Mb days 16Mb remains an excellent broadband speed which makes you capable of downloading an average MP3 in just a few seconds!

At £24.99, though, this has become a bit of a pricey broadband deal (to put it into context you can get 20Mb broadband for £15 a month with O2's Premium Package and £10 a month if you're an O2 customer).

On the plus side, UK Online has scrapped the activation fee for this Premier package, but you are bound to a 12 month contract and UKOnline insist that you buy their ADSL2+ Wireless Router (£49.99) in order to use this package.

UKOnline Premier 16Mb comes with 20 email addresses and a healthy 100mb of web space. To top it off, you'll get a free .co.uk or .org.uk domain name too.

Even more pleasingly (and, notably, unlike TalkTalk) UKOnline are now famous for their excellent customer support.

Brilliant customer service

In fact, they offer 24/7 UK-based call centre support via a free phone 0800 number as well as defined service levels which promise, amongst other things, guaranteed responses to email enquiries within 12 hours and 90% of all calls answered within half a minute.

We'd argue that UKOnline offers some of the UK's best broadband customer service.

Free internet security (for 12 months)

Both business users and home users will be impressed with UKOnline Premier's security features which includes a year's free use of McAfee Internet Security Suite (which includes anti-virus and firewall software).

Lowest contention ratio broadband

Most of all though, you'll be most impressed with UKOnline Premier's eye-watering speed, bolstered by the 20:1 contention ratio (most other providers have a 50:1 contention ratio, meaning 50 people can share the line at any one time!).

A little more detail...

Broadband		Special Note...	Any good?
Package:	Premier	-
Connection:	ADSL2+	Telephone line
Max Speed:	Up to 16Mb
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

Payment, Installation & Contract
Setup Cost:	Free
Hardware Cost:	£49.99
Installation:	Self installation
Line Rental Provider:	BT Line Rental required (£11.54/mth)
Minimum Contract:	12 months
Payment Method(s):	Direct Debit / Credit Card
Support:	24/7 freephone support