Should the Internet Be FREE?

That could work, but with limitations:

- Bandwidth restriction 1GB ~ 2GB each month

- Only for basic necessities (email, banking, office-type)

- No movie/music streaming (that'd eat up 1GB in an instant)

The cell network Three had something similar before: www.three.co.uk/terms-conditions/three-products-and-services/data-reward-sim?id=1666&link_id=lc&manufacturer&ty=aff (still works for those who registered before, not for new users)

If people want internet without restrictions then they'd pay for whatever package.

I don’t think it should be free as it is a choice to have broadband, but the prices are insane. We pay £40 now just for broadband and because of where we live we can’t have certain companies so we are limited.

I think it should be free as it is full of adverts and essential for necessary information. Not everyone has a tv these days due to the outrageous tv license and many rely on the internet not only for education but also news, medical, traffic, utility company access and much more. If they want to charge us for internet then they really shouldn't show any advertising at all.

There are a lot more important things that should be free before broadband... sorry.

I know plenty of people that get by or live without it... I couldn't now though unless I REALLY HAD to.

Someone has to pay for the engineers, upkeep, systems, cables, care etc.

Well it’s just like everything else isn’t it, these companies are allowed to just put their prices up willy nilly and we have to put up with it.

I don’t think it should be free, it should be affordable for all though

Unfortunate it doesn't work anymore

It's a little bit frustrating that we have to pay for it on our mobile phone as well as broadband at home so two different companies for me

You don’t get something for nothing, so if the government offers it up for free, they will want data in return, which is fine by me. It’s insane that everyone pays when networks can be shared (but obviously, there are security risks)

Given you need Internet access literally for everything it's unfair on those that can't afford it. Kids need Internet access for homework. Schools communicate via email or other forms of apps

I don't think it should be free but certainly more affordable. Especially for families with school age children who are struggling with the cost of other basic necessities. My sons nursery communicates by app, the school I work for does the same. Kids need Internet to do their homework. Even just to fill in forms these days you need the Internet. It has become a big part of our lives.

If the government offers it for free it will just end up costing more as when you involve the government it becomes grossly inefficient and they will award contracts to their friends who will give them a backhand amount of money and it will probably cost taxpayers £60 a month for everyone with free internet. I don't see why we can't have low cost broadband contracts perhaps with a 5 year contract and only 5GB downloads per month for £5-10 though. Just for people who want basic internet and don't stream video. However you can just go into Wetherspoons buy a coffee and get free refills for a couple of hours and make use of their free internet for customers.

My phone contract with RWG is £35 one off payment for 24 months of 250 minutes, 2GB data, 250 texts (which I never use) and so is less than £2 per month. I can sit outside any shop/restaurant with free internet too with a mobile phone. I could use my mobile phone to provide tethering to the internet for my laptop but 2GB won't last long but it could be enough for light users.

Absolutely no reason for the government to supply free internet it will just add to borrowing and debt and mean more cutbacks elsewhere.

Lets face it the government debts will mean services being cut back in the future not increased. I think it is so unrealistic to expect the government to provide new services like this.

The Internet is a product that generates money, so it will never be free...

Asking the question 'should the internet be free' seems to have missed most who have commented. The internet is free, hence the mass of ads that everyone is complaining about. It's the connection to the internet (broadband or mobile) that users pay for, which has risen expediently above inflation over the last few years.

The government are partly at fault for demanding the providers give us gigabit broadband, but only the smallest minority of customers need that speed and most would be happy with 100mb. So stop forcing higher speeds we don't need and provide a service that all can afford

It's NEVER gonna be free while companies can make a fortune from people who have online banking accounts and like social media, plus Amazon and eBay shopping and All the major supermarkets delivery apps.

No I dont think It should be free. To me, Its a luxury. Luxury things like the Internet, owing a car, taking a holiday etc Is a choice of your own. You dont have to buy these things. There Is no one twisting your arms saying you got to have them. Yes they are steep In prices but we do live In the UK where we are getting ripped off. Not just with the Internet but with everything else too. We are way beyond In means of speed though. I am getting 51-55mbps where some countries like Japan are getting 100 plus mbps and the prices range from £21. I pay £27 for fibre too.

The prices shouldnt be this expensive especially with the constant problems.

It's not quite the same thing as free internet but I recon most 'light' internet users could get away with just tethering from their phone's data plan and scrap broadband altogether.

I've just come out of contract with my broadband provider and it's gone up quite a lot so need to do some comparrisons. Couldn't do without our broadband like most people but don't think it should be free, would be nice but not going to happen.