Vodafone to launch fixed broadband

Vodafone will next week, launch fixed broadband in the UK, responding to increasing challenges in its home market.

The company has inked a deal with British incumbent, BT, to provide the infrastructure for the new broadband internet service, dubbed: “Vodafone At Home.”

Unlike rivals Sky and Carphone Warehouse which have limited domestic coverage, Vodafone’s alliance with BT will give it almost 100 per cent.

Customers must take out an 18 month contract to receive At Home for which they will get 8MB broadband access “round-the-clock technical support” and unlimited free calls to any UK landline. The service comes with a free modem, although wireless customers will have to pay an extra £25.

Additionally, users can opt for mobile broadband by buying a half-price Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem, so they can use Vodafone’s 3G broadband network from a laptop.

Vodafone is thought to be looking at adding TV to its products later in the year and BT’s Vision service could be a perfect fit. Vision mixes digital terrestrial channels from Freeview, with on-demand content that could, theoretically, be pumped onto a user’s mobile.