With 2 months free when you sign up before 6th August, a free wireless router and McAfee security software O2's Standard package gives you unlimited broadband for less.
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O2 - The Basics
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What's the deal?
For just £12.23 a month (£7.34 a month for O2 mobile customers!) the O2 Standard broadband package gives you unlimited usage, a free wireless router, McAfee security software and download speeds of up to 8Mb.
Unlike many providers they don't levy a connection fee and are currently offering 2 months free when you sign up before 6th August, 2009 so for the first year they are by far the cheapest option for unlimited broadband.
What makes it great?
When you sign up to a broadband package it's important not only to factor in the monthly cost but also any setup fees that you're likely to have to pay. For this reason it can be really helpful to look at how the first year cost as well as just the monthly cost compares to other providers.
With O2's current 2 months free offer and no set up fee, you'll only pay £122.30 for unlimited broadband access for the next 12 months. O2 mobile customers will see even bigger savings, paying just £73.40 in total over the course of the year. So, whether you're an existing O2 mobile customer or not it's still the cheapest option by over £25.
What's more, the O2 Standard package is available as a 12 month contract so if they're no longer competitive after you've been with them a year you're free to switch to another provider.
Finally, O2 fared reasonably well compared to other providers in Ofcom's recent investigation into broadband speeds so you have some reassurance as to the reliability of the service you're signing up for.
Who would it suit?
This package is best suited to those who specifically need unlimited broadband as cheaper packages are available if you need a lesser download limit. For this reason it's a good idea to work out your usage before you sign up. If it warrants an unlimited package then the O2 Standard option may suit, but if not an alternative is likely to be more economical.
You'll also need to think about the download speed you'll require as while the O2 Standard package offers 8Mb downloads, its Premier package (available for £97.90 a year for O2 customers and £146.80 a year for everyone else) offers download speeds of up to 20Mb so is another 'cheap' alternative to consider.
What's the catch?
You will need to sign up before 6th August, 2009 to take advantage of the 2 months free offer as after this date the yearly price will go up. That said, even at its full yearly cost The O2 standard package will still stand up as a reasonably cost-efficient option compared to the others available on the market, particularly if you are an existing O2 customer.
What's the alternative?
Plusnet's Unlimited broadband package comes in as the cheapest on a month-by-month basis at just £11.99 per month ongoing. After the O2 offer expires this is likely to take the place as the cheapest unlimited package available. It is however part of an 18 month contract so you'll need to consider whether you're happy to be tied in for this length of time.
If you don't require unlimited broadband then the Plusnet Value broadband package is the cheapest option available. For just £5.99 a month and with no set up fee it offers 10Gb of downloads and download speeds of up to 8Mb.
However, if these don't fit the bill there are plenty of other broadband packages out there for you to choose from so whatever your usage you can get online for less.
We have done our very best to make sure that the information included in this Deal is accurate. However, sometimes offers can be withdrawn or changed at the last minute so please do check that you're able to redeem this Deal before parting with any money, or going out of your way to take advantage of the offer.
