Broadband gets cheaper and faster

Broadband prices have hit a new low after dropping by a third in the past four years, research says.

Customers now pay an average £17.19 per month compared with £26.66 in December 2003, according to price comparison website uSwitch.com.

Broadband connections have also got quicker, increasing from headline speeds of an average 0.5Mb in December 2003 to 8Mb now.

Orange currently has the highest monthly charge for stand-alone broadband at £20 for speeds of up to 8Mb, uSwitch said.

AOL has brought in the biggest reduction of the past four years, cutting its monthly broadband charge from £27.99 in December 2003 to £14.99 this year.

Steve Weller, head of communications services at uSwitch.com, said: "With broadband both the cheapest and the fastest it's ever been, our love affair with the internet is set to reach great heights this year.

"We predict that prices will stabilise, but customers will be offered more for their money, with companies continuing to increase speeds."

Plusnet currently offers the cheapest monthly 8Mb deal at £10 per month, uSwitch said.

The fastest broadband connection speed in December 2003 was a 2Mb package from Telewest.

Virgin Media is now planning to roll out a super-fast 50Mb broadband service by the end of 2008.

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