If you have recently arrived in the UK, then one of the first issues that you will try to solve as soon as possible will most likely be your Internet connection. I’ll warn you right away: connecting the “home” Internet that is familiar to most Russians via a modem is not so easy here. What are the connection options? Let’s list them all.
Internet connection options in England
1) Internet via mobile phone.

The easiest way to connect to the Internet. If your phone settings and your service provider allow it, you can connect your mobile phone as a modem (hotpoint) to a desktop computer. Most mobile operators provide mobile service packages, which include a certain number of megabytes of Internet traffic (sometimes you can buy unlimited at a very low price, for example, from Three). However, in this case, the download speed of Internet pages will be very low. Therefore, if you need fast Internet for work, then this option is clearly not suitable for you.
2) Fiber optic connection (fibre)

A good option with a fast download speed, but very expensive, and besides, fiber optic communication is not available in all areas of the UK. Check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) website to see if this service is available for your home. In some cases, you will have to wait for the installation of fiber optic cable until the provider receives a sufficient number of requests for connection. At our first address in Manchester, for example, it was not possible to connect fiber optics.
3) Broadband Internet via USB modem (dongle)

A USB modem can be obtained from mobile operators. In this case, the connection speed will be excellent, but the traffic is very limited and expensive. For example, from the mobile operator Three that I use, you can get 5 GB of data for 15.99 pounds plus an additional 4.99 pounds for connection (ie 20.98 pounds sterling in total). However, the connection validity period is limited to 1 month. However, if you urgently need Internet with good speed, this is the only available option.

4) Broadband Internet with a modem connection (broadband)

This is the same “home” Internet that is familiar to us with a connection via a modem (router). Excellent speed for relatively little money (compared to optical fiber). This option is optimal if you need Internet with good speed for a long time. The rates are something like this: for example, Sky is now offering a 12-month contract for broadband Internet at 17Mb and unlimited for £10 per month (plus £15 for the use of a telephone line, this fee, alas, cannot be avoided, even if you do not use the phone – “thank you” to the British Telecom monopoly). Moreover, for the first six months Sky gives a discount of 5 pounds.
Broadband internet providers in England

The largest broadband internet providers in the UK are:

1) Sky

2) Vodafone

3) British Telecom

4) TalkTalk

5) Virgin Media is a division of the giant mega-corporation Virgin.

The procedure for connecting broadband home Internet (broadband)

So, how do you connect broadband internet at home?

1) First of all, you should fill out an application for Internet connection on the website of the selected Internet provider. Moreover, if there is no telephone line in your house, then you need to order its installation at the same time. Subsequently, the ISP will charge you a monthly rental fee for using it, even if you do not need a home phone at all. As a rule, it is the installation of a telephone line that causes the greatest difficulty. The fact is that only one telecom operator is authorized to do this – British Telecom, which has actually monopolized this market with all the ensuing consequences. No other ISP company can install a phone line in your home on their own, even if their website says otherwise. In any case, they will be forced to contact the special division of British Telecom – the company OpenReach, and negotiate with them about the visit of their engineer. Sometimes you have to wait months for an engineer from Openreach! In total, I had to wait for an Internet connection for 2.5 months, and this is not the limit.

2) If you are lucky and the telephone line in your apartment or house is already connected, then you agree with the provider company about the visit of an electrical engineer from Openreach, who will physically connect your telephone line to the lines of the telecom operator.

3) After that, you should wait for the modem, which will arrive to you exclusively by mail, like most things in this country. No, you can’t get it at the provider’s office, don’t waste your time and effort trying to change the system.

4) Did the modem come? You can be congratulated – now you just have to connect it yourself, guided by the attached instructions. If you are used to the fact that a master comes to your house and connects everything himself, then forget about it. However, thanks to visual instructions and picture hints, connecting a modem is not so difficult. I did it in just 5 minutes.

As practice shows, connecting the Internet in London is faster than in other cities. However, in any case, this does not happen in a day. So be patient and don’t try to speed things up. Life in the Kingdom flows slowly and measuredly, and local companies operate in the same relaxed mode. Sooner or later, but in the end you will become the owner of a fast Internet with a stable connection.