As owners of the telephone infrastructure that is used by almost all other Internet service providers, BT reigns supreme in the UK. It is also the largest broadband company in the country (only Virgin Media is in the same league as BT and it too has its own telephone/ADSL cables). Sometimes the largest is not necessarily the best, but in BT’s case there are millions of satisfied customers who enjoy the multitude of services this mega-provider offers. BT’s basket of products, including the company’s impressive and easy-to-use Home Hub wireless router, is among the best in the business, with an array of products and broadband deals and packages that include mobile phones and television connections.
BT Broadband speeds are somewhat limited because it doesn’t offer an unbundled service; 8Mbps is its maximum speed for the time being (though it is in the preliminary stages of higher-speed service). The company does offer great customer service, which includes 24-hour technical support (though the waiting time may be daunting as can be expected from such a big company). BT brings to broadband its rich history and experience in the telecom industry (dating back over 150 years). It currently boasts more than 4.5 million customers and it is attempting to keep up with Virgin Media’s super-fast cable broadband by introducing its own fibre-optic service that offers speeds up to 40Mbps. For now, this attractive service is being offered on a limited basis, but BT hopes to be able to offer it to all its customers by next year (2010).