Vodafone has returned to the broadband business with a new offering called Connect.
The mobile network giant pulled out of the business some three years ago, but is now back with a broadband and home phone bundle that piggybacks on BT’s Openreach infrastructure.
Vodafone Connect will offer broadband speeds of up to 76 Mbps, with early access and discounts for existing Vodafone mobile customers.
The initial rollout will be quite limited. Initially, Vodafone Connect will be made available in Manchester and parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. It will then make its way to Essex, Hertfordshire and Yorkshire.
The rest of Vodafone’s customers will be able to access Connect later in the year, while everyone else will be able to sign up this autumn.
There are three initial bundles available on Vodafone Connect: 17 Mbps ADSL, 38 Mbps fibre, and the full 76 Mbps fibre. Each comes with unlimited monthly data usage.
For Vodafone customers, prices start from just £2.50 per month for the first 12 months on the lowest tier, then £5 for the remaining six months. The fastest fibre optic package, meanwhile, costs £10 per month for the first 12 months and £20 a month thereafter.
All come with a standard £16.99 monthly line rental charge.
Signing up for any of these on an 18 month contract will get you a free Vodafone Connect router, and free evening and weekend calls from a landline. Vodafone Pay monthly Red customers will also get an extra 300 Anytime & Mobile minutes, while all Vodafone mobile customers get £5 off their monthly bill.
As part of the package, there’s also an Android or iOS Vodafone Connect companion app that grants control of that smart-looking router. This features a couple of neat features, such as the ability to “boost” one of your devices so that it gets preferential download speeds for two hours at a time.
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“Beam,” meanwhile, will send a stronger Wi-Fi signal to compatible devices wherever they are in the home – perfect for that stuffy office at the top of the house that never seems to get a good connection.
You can also use the Vodafone Connect app to set limits on when younger family members can access the internet (through Wi-Fi, at least).
Vodafone customers in the aforementioned areas can sign up for Vodafone Connect right now.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.