Fast internet access in the UK is getting cheaper, with two companies offering broadband for less than �20 a month.

Both Tiscali and Freeserve are offering a low-cost always-on high-speed net service in what could be the start of a broadband price war.

With Tiscali, the offer is for a 256 kbps ADSL service, which is five times faster than a standard dial-up connection but half the speed of most broadband offerings.

There is an additional �50 activation fee and a �65 charge for the relevant modem.

To take advantage of the Freeserve promotional deal, you have to buy an emachines desktop PC from PC World.

And after the first six months, customers will pay the standard �29.99 per month for the service.

But for anyone yet to invest in the internet revolution there will be a free modem and connection thrown in, amounting to a saving of �149.99.

Converting users

The drop in prices are part of a drive by internet companies to compete with BT and other providers which are already offering cheap broadband.

"Other companies have only been able to match the new Freeserve price offer by offering an inferior product, half the speed," said Director of Marketing Keith Hawkins.

Freeserve will be hoping that once users have experienced high-speed access, they will not want to give up their broadband connection.

Experts have questioned how ultra-cheap deals, offered by ISPs such as ET Global Solutions, can be sustained in the long run.

For consumers the glut of new offers will prove very tempting although most newcomers to high-speed internet access might find the lack of technical support frustrating.

The Freeserve promotion is running until 22 October initially.

The ISP promises more broadband deals in the near future and is also planning an overhaul of its homepage to make it simpler, more personal and ad-free.