Moving House Broadband Checklist: What to Do and When
Broadband is easy to forget when you’re moving — until you’re sitting in your new home with no Wi-Fi. Here’s a simple timeline to avoid that. 3-4 weeks before moving: 1-2 weeks before moving: Moving day: First week in your new home: Common mistake to avoid: Assuming your existing provider’s package will simply transfer to […]
Broadband for Gamers: What Speed and Upload Do You Really Need?
For gaming, raw download speed matters far less than most people assume. Here’s what actually affects your in-game experience. Latency (ping) is king. Low latency means your inputs register faster and multiplayer games feel responsive. Full fibre connections generally offer lower, more consistent latency than part-fibre or cable, since there’s no copper bottleneck introducing lag. […]
Best Broadband Deals for Families in 2026
Family broadband needs to handle a lot at once — homework, streaming, gaming, video calls, and multiple devices, often all simultaneously. Here’s what actually matters when comparing deals. Download speed: For a household of 4+ people, aim for at least 150-200 Mbps to comfortably run multiple 4K streams, video calls, and downloads without competing for […]
Hidden Broadband Fees to Watch Out For
The advertised monthly price is rarely the full story. Here are the most common extra charges to look out for. 1. Connection/joining fees. Some providers charge £30-£75 just to activate your line — often not shown clearly until checkout. 2. Router fees. A “free” router sometimes comes with a rental charge buried in the small […]
Broadband Without Contracts: Is It Right for You?
Contract-free broadband — sometimes called “rolling” or “no fixed term” — means you’re not locked into 12, 18, or 24 months with a provider. Here’s when that actually makes sense. Pros of no-contract broadband: Potential trade-offs: What to check before choosing no-contract broadband: Who benefits most: Renters on shorter tenancies, people between house moves, or […]
How to Switch Broadband Providers Without Losing Internet Access
The biggest fear when switching broadband is a gap between old and new — here’s why that’s rarely an issue, and how the process actually works. Step 1: Check coverage. Enter your postcode to see what’s available at your address. Step 2: Choose your package and create an account. Set your start date and payment […]
FTTP vs FTTC: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
Both FTTP and FTTC get marketed as “fibre broadband” — but only one of them is full fibre all the way to your door. FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet): Fibre runs from the exchange to the green cabinet on your street. From there, old copper telephone wiring carries the signal into your home. Speeds are […]
How Much Broadband Speed Do I Need?
Broadband providers throw a lot of Mbps numbers at you — here’s what they actually mean for daily use. 1 person, light use (browsing, email, one stream): 30-40 Mbps is plenty. 2-3 people, regular streaming, some WFH: 60-100 Mbps gives headroom without buffering. Family household, multiple devices, 4K streaming, gaming: 150-300 Mbps keeps everything running […]
What Is OFNL and How Does It Deliver Broadband?
OFNL is one of the UK’s independent full fibre network builders — sometimes called an “altnet” (alternative network) — laying fibre optic infrastructure directly to homes and businesses, separate from the traditional Openreach network. Why it matters to you: Merula Broadband delivers its packages over the OFNL network, meaning the actual physical fibre installed at […]
Fibre vs Cable vs ADSL: What’s the Difference?
ADSL runs entirely over old copper telephone lines. It’s the oldest and slowest option, typically maxing out around 10-24 Mbps, and speeds drop the further you live from the exchange. Cable broadband (historically Virgin Media’s network) uses coaxial cable, which is faster and more stable than ADSL, but can still slow down at peak times […]