With so much choice on the market, picking a broadband service can be a massive headache. All of the major telecom firms are trying to tempt customer with the promise of faster speeds, better connections and free gifts when you sign on the dotted line.
BT is making a big push to improve what’s on offer to its customers. The newest addition to its service is the Complete Wi-Fi system which aims to pump the internet to every corner of your home meaning less chance of suffering from irritating black spots or download-stopping dropouts.
But does this service really work and is it worth signing up to a long and pretty pricey contract with BT?
Express.co.uk has been putting the Complete Wi-Fi broadband to the test for the past few months and there’s certainly plenty of reasons why it’s worth considering.
Right from the off, BT has done a very good job in making the transition to its service as easy as possible for the customer — with the whole process proving to be pretty painless.
Once we’d signed up there were regular updates sent to our phone and email about when things would be installed and these kept on coming right up to the moment when the engineer knocked at the door.
Our home had an older BT box on the wall so things needed to be upgraded before we could get online. But even with that added complication, the whole process took less than an hour and we were soon ready to begin downloading files and streaming shows on Netflix.
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As soon as things were switched on the Complete Wi-Fi got to work pumping broadband to all of our connected devices which include smart speakers, laptops, security camera and Sky Q.
All worked perfectly and what helps with this task is the inclusion of the extra Wi-Fi disk which can be placed in another room to give things an added boost.
If you have a small house or flat it’s unlikely this second disk will be of much use but for older and larger properties its vital if you want to see those Wi-Fi bars glow strong on your smartphone or tablet.
Along with the hardware there’s also help from BT’s app to make sure things are running smoothly. The smartphone software shows you how your signal is holding up and the best place to position the router and booster for optimal performance.
Sadly, the app doesn’t offer some features found on rival routers such as full parental controls that are specific to a device or the option to set up a guest network but it’s still a fairly comprehensive and easy to use application.
Having put it through some strenuous testing in a busy family home this broadband has been trouble-free with no issues finding that all-important Wi-Fi signal no matter which room we happened to find ourselves in.
Although we have been lucky to get a good connection if things aren’t up to scratch there is another bonus of subscribing to this plan.
BT says that any Complete Wi-Fi customers who are still suffering from black spots will instantly get two more Wi-Fi Discs free of charge and if that doesn’t work you can get £20 back.
So, there’s plenty to like about BT’s Complete Wi-Fi but you may find one issue that is worth noting before signing up.
Our test took place in London but even in the bustling capital, BT was only able to beam speeds of around 72Mbps into our property.
That’s not bad but when you compare it one of its main rivals there is a glaring problem.
Virgin Media is now offering speeds at over 900Mbps which is considerably faster than anything that BT can muster.
BT is beginning to boost things with some homes now able to sign up to speeds of around 300Mbps but, if download times are vital to you, it’s worth checking with each provider in your area before making any final decisions.
One other thing to be aware of with the Complete Wi-Fi service is that it is pretty expensive.
BT is currently offering its standard broadband with speeds of 36Mbps for £24.99 per month but add Complete Wi-Fi to this plan and things jump to £34.99 on a two-year contract.
If you are able to get the best speeds BT can offer (Ultrafast Fibre 250) then things get even more expensive with this ultimate broadband plan costing £59.99 per month – that’s over £1,400 during the 24-month term!
VERDICT
- PROS – Great way to spread broadband around your home • Router and booster get a tidy design • Easy to use app • BT offers plenty of help to make sure you get the best signal
- CONS – Broadband speeds may not match its rivals • No way to set up a guest network • Expensive
Having used BT’s Complete Wi-Fi for the past few months we’ve been left very impressed.
From the easy installation to the strong signal now appearing in every room in our house, there’s little not to like about BT’s new offer to customers.
The only real issue is how fast and what speeds are available are available on your street.
Despite our test taking place in London, we were only able to get a maximum speed of around 80Mbps which is considerably slower than what’s available from Virgin Media.
If you want the fastest speeds in town then BT’s Complete Wi-Fi might not be for you but if you’re after a reliable signal that won’t drop out when you head upstairs to bed then it’s definitely worth considering.
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