Unlimited Broadband

What is unlimited broadband?

Some broadband provider plans limit how much you can download each month, with unlimited broadband packages you don’t have a data limit meaning you can stream, watch & play without having to worry about how much you are downloading.

What does ‘truly unlimited’ broadband mean?

‘Truly unlimited’ means that there are no data caps or download limits. So no matter what you’re doing online, at any time, and how much, your internet provider will try to provide you with the speed you’re paying for. Unfortunately not all unlimited broadband plans are actually “truly” unlimited - many providers have certain limits to ensure their network is not overloaded.

Is unlimited broadband really unlimited?

Not all broadband is unlimited. Most providers do not offer truly unlimited data plans. Most unlimited plans limit the amount you can download at certain times of the day or decrease your download speed during peak hours. Once exceeded, you may incur an expensive fee or a slower speed. It is important to read the small print as a provider’s traffic management and fair usage policies may affect your download speeds and the amount of data you can download.

What is a download limit?

A download limit is the maximum amount of data you are allowed to download - including pictures, movies and music - throughout your billing cycle, which is usually one month. It varies with each supplier.

Who is unlimited broadband good for?

Unlimited broadband is good if you:

• You live in a large household with lots of devices connected at one time.
• You play online games, unlimited broadband will ensure lag won’t ruin your gaming experience.
• You download music, TV shows or movies.
• You stream content, via services like Spotify, Netflix, NOW TV or Amazon Prime.

What providers offer unlimited broadband?

Many providers now offer unlimited broadband including Digiweb, eir, Magnet, Pure Telecom, Sky, Virgin Media & Vodafone.

What is the cheapest unlimited broadband deal?

The cheapest unlimited broadband package is the Simply Broadband & Talk deal from Vodafone, which costs €30 for the first 12 months, and €55 thereafter.

What is fair usage policy?

In terms of data restrictions, many providers will put in place a fair usage policy, which is basically a monthly cap on data usage. Usually when you go above this limit, you’ll be charged for your usage, charges and limits vary with providers.

What is traffic management?

Some providers also operate what’s known as ‘traffic management’. This basically means they limit subscribers’ maximum download and upload speeds during peak hours to make sure everyone connected to the exchange has an equal share of bandwidth.

Will I get faster broadband with an unlimited plan?

The vast majority of unlimited broadband plans are available with speeds of up to 100Mbps, with Virgin Media offering speeds of up to 1000Mbps. There are some unlimited plans with speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. The actual speeds you’ll be able to get will depend on where you live and the type of broadband connection you have.

How do I compare unlimited broadband deals?

• Price. This will probably be the most important factor when it comes to choosing a broadband package.
• Broadband speed. The speed you need will depend on what you’ll be using the broadband for.
• Contract length and discount period. It’s important to know how long you’ll be tied into your plan. In terms of discounts, sometimes they last for the whole contract length, and other times they’re for a shorter period.
• Installation fees. Some providers offer free installation, while with others there’ll be an upfront charge.

Can I bundle unlimited broadband?

• You could go for a triple-play package, which comes with broadband, phone and TV all in one. The cheapest broadband, TV and phone package is the eir TV Plus & Broadband plus Off-Peak + eir sport plan from eir.
• If you want TV and broadband, there are 4 main providers in the Irish market - eir, Sky, Virgin Media and Vodafone.
• If you would like to bundle your broadband and phone, Vodafone offers the cheapest plan.