Vodafone broadband deals
Vodafone Broadband Deals
Vodafone has multiple broadband packages on offer, with availability varying depending on area. Use our tool to see which packages can be purchased at your address:
Who is Vodafone?
Vodafone is best known as a mobile telecommunications company. However, it also provides broadband and landline services. The business trades on a number of international stock markets, and has operations worldwide.
It is hard to exactly state when the Vodafone brand started. The company emerged from Racal Electronics, formed in 1981 as a subsidiary of Racal Strategic Radio (a military communications technology business). The name “Racal-Vodafone” first appeared in 1985. Six years later, Vodafone was demerged, thus creating the Vodafone Group brand we know today.
Vodafone first began to provide broadband in the UK in 2015. Vodafone exclusively offers fibre broadband (see below), meaning phone lines are not necessary for internet connectivity. Nonetheless, Vodafone does offer landline connection with all its broadband packages. Bundles can be purchased to enhance the home phone service in various ways, including unlimited calls, free evening and weekend calls or “Voicemail Plus”.
What is Vodafone Broadband?
Vodafone Broadband is the home fibre broadband service provided by Vodafone. Unlike most other providers, it no longer offers any ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) broadband packages. The older technology uses copper phone lines to transmit data. Vodafone focuses solely on fibre, which is capable of producing much faster speeds.
For the most part, the Vodafone fibre network utilises “fibre to the cabinet” (FTCC) technology. This means that fibre cabling is run as far as local cabinets, with the last leg to individual homes being completed with copper cables. Most customers will be able to choose from two main fibre packages:
Superfast 1: 35 Mb/s average download speed, 10 Mb/s maximum upload speed
Superfast 2: 63 Mb/s average download speed, 20 Mb/s maximum upload speed
Each of these packages can also be purchased as an “extra” bundle, which adds unlimited anytime calls to UK landlines and mobiles, as well as a guarantee of no price rises during the course of the contract. Extra also adds a year’s subscription to Apple TV (see more here).
Vodafone, like most other ISPs, uses the Openreach infrastructure network. Openreach is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT, and rents out its cable system to numerous different providers. Openreach is in the process of developing a network that runs fibre cables directly into individual homes, known as “full fibre” (fibre to the premises). Full fibre is capable of delivering significantly faster internet speeds than FTTC technology.
Vodafone is in the process of rolling out an FTTP broadband offering, supported by the Openreach infrastructure. Known as “gigafast broadband”, Vodafone offers four separate packages. The quoted speeds are as follows:
Vodafone Gigafast Broadband 100: 100Mb/s download and upload
Vodafone Gigafast Broadband 200: 200Mb/s download and upload
Vodafone Gigafast Broadband 500: 500Mb/s download and upload
Vodafone Gigafast Broadband 900: 900Mb/s download and upload
Interestingly, Vodafone has also partnered with alternative digital infrastructure provider CityFibre in a bid to make FTTP gigafast broadband available to more customers.
All Vodafone broadband packages come with the Vodafone Wi-Fi Hub. This can be controlled from the Vodafone Broadband App (see more).
What is Vodafone Mobile Broadband?
Vodafone Mobile Broadband uses the extensive Vodafone mobile network as an alternative way of offering broadband services. Data dongles, Mobile Wi-Fi and the GigaCube all provide ways of connecting devices to the internet via Vodafone’s 4G network. The GigaCube router also allows users to connect devices to the Vodafone 5G network.
Mobile broadband can be a temporary or long-term solution. It can be a good option for short-term travel, given that all of Vodafone’s mobile broadband devices are portable. Furthermore, Vodafone users can roam for free in 52 countries. A further 104 countries are “roam-further”, allowing unlimited roaming for a relatively small daily charge. For travel within the UK, Vodafone mobile broadband all but guarantees connectivity: the Vodafone mobile network covers 99% of the country. Unlimited 30-day deals are available to support short-term usage.
Equally, it is possible to use Vodafone Mobile Broadband in much the same way as conventional Wi-Fi. Unlimited mobile broadband can be purchased on 12-month deals, effectively acting as a permanent Wi-Fi hotspot. Up to 10 devices can connect to Mobile Wi-Fi at once, while the GigaCube can support up to 64 devices. Speeds on the GigaCube can reach up to 1 Gb/s, supported by the super-fast 5G network.
Is Vodafone Broadband unlimited?
Yes, all Vodafone fibre broadband packages are unlimited. There is no traffic management, data cap or fair use policy.
Vodafone Mobile Broadband deals can also be purchased with unlimited data. However, capped 30-day and 12-month plans are also available.
Perks of Vodafone Broadband
All ISPs offer some perks to try and appeal to new and existing customers. But what extras are available alongside Vodafone’s broadband service? Here is a breakdown of the available benefits and add-ons:
What is the Vodafone Ultimate Broadband Guarantee?
Vodafone’s Ultimate Broadband Guarantee is a promise to meet the minimum download speeds quoted on each broadband package. For the Superfast 1 package, that’s 25 Mb/s. Superfast 2 customers are guaranteed 55 Mb/s.
For customers who are not getting their guaranteed speed (on a line that has been active for at least 10 days), a 15% monthly discount is available. This deduction applies until the speed returns above the guarantee.
Fibre packages of 100 Mb/s or higher are currently not covered by the guarantee.
Sync speeds can be measured in the Vodafone Broadband app (see below). If speeds are below the guarantee, users can claim their refund directly from the app.
What is the Vodafone Broadband app?
The Vodafone Broadband app is a mobile application that allows broadband customers to perform a range of functions. As mentioned above, this includes carrying out a broadband sync speed check. There are plenty of additional features too.
Perhaps the most unique feature is the ability to boost Wi-Fi signal to an individual device. This allows for a prioritisation system when multiple users are connected. Custom Wi-Fi schedules can also be created from the app.
In addition, customers can create QR codes containing network details through the app. This allows guests to easily connect to the network, simply by scanning the code. Similarly, private guest networks can be set up, allowing visitors to connect easily without compromising private data on the primary network.
Suspicious or unwanted devices can also be blocked from the network through the app. Vodafone Broadband also features parental controls, which can be altered in user account settings.
What is Vodafone Intelligent Wi-Fi?
Vodafone Intelligent Wi-Fi is designed to automatically optimise for a fast and consistent connection. It works by scanning the home environment, adapting accordingly to try and deliver the best and most consistent speeds. This is included with all fibre broadband packages.
Intelligent Wi-Fi works alongside the Broadband app to try and deliver the optimum broadband experience.
What is Vodafone Mobile?
Vodafone Mobile is Vodafone’s well-known mobile network. Combined, there are more than 18 million Vodafone mobile and fixed line customers in the UK.
For the most part, this is run entirely separately to the broadband side of the business. However, new and existing Vodafone Mobile customers can access a discount of up to £3 a month on certain Vodafone Broadband deals.
The Vodafone mobile network is also utilised for Vodafone’s mobile broadband services, as discussed above.
What is Vodafone Work and Play?
Vodafone Work and Play is a second broadband line which can be installed into the home. Available to Vodafone customers and those with other primary providers, this secondary line creates a reliable and traffic-free connection for those working from home. Gaming or streaming from other household members takes place on a separate line.
What is Vodafone Extra (inc. Apple TV+)?
Vodafone Extra can be added to any plan for an additional £8 per month. This comes with a variety of perks compared to the basic plans.
The first Extra perk, applicable to Superfast 1 Extra and Superfast 2 Extra customers, is a guarantee of no in-contract price rises. This is a particularly big benefit on Vodafone, because contracts typically have a 24-month minimum term. It is worth noting that this perk of Extra is not available on any of the full fibre packages.
Secondly, Extra comes with a lot of benefits when it comes to the landline phone. Specifically, unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles are included in the Extra package. However, it is worth pointing out that calls are charged at the standard rate if they run beyond 60 minutes. This can be avoided by hanging up and re-dialling.
Finally, Extra customers get a 12-month subscription to Apple TV+ in 4K. Apple TV+ is Apple’s video streaming platform, a rival to Netflix and Amazon Prime. Hit titles such as Ted Lasso and The Morning Show are exclusive to Apple’s streaming service. New original shows are added each month.
Apple TV+ subscriptions are shareable with up to five family members. It is viewable online or through the Apple TV app, which can be accessed on a range of mobile devices and smart TVs. After the free year, the subscription automatically renews (unless cancelled) at a cost of £4.99 per month.
How to contact Vodafone support
Vodafone Broadband offers a wide variety of services and perks. But, as with all ISPs, there is always the possibility that things could go wrong. Here’s how you can contact Vodafone Broadband in such an eventuality:
How do I contact Vodafone by phone?
Vodafone customer service is reachable at 0333 304 0191. Alternatively, Vodafone Mobile customers can call 191 for free. Lines are open 8AM-9PM Monday to Friday, and 8AM-8PM at the weekends.
How do I contact Vodafone online?
Vodafone has a digital assistant service called TOBi. This tries to answer customer queries using the extensive knowledge centre. Failing this, the chatbot can redirect customers to a live adviser.
The knowledge base can also be browsed by topic without the help of TOBi. Users can also browse and post in the community forum.
As a fibre-only provider, Vodafone finds itself up against some of the more premium ISPs - Virgin Media, for instance. However, the price point and relatively basic set of perks places Vodafone in more of a bracket with the likes of NOW Broadband and TalkTalk.
Conclusion
That wraps up this guide to the Vodafone broadband service. The flagship cheap fibre deals form the primary USP, but there are also a selection of perks on offer. Now you have read the run-through, you should be in a strong position to make an informed choice on whether Vodafone is the right internet service provider for you.