Italy is the cheapest country in Europe for broadband, according to consultants Teligen.

Its report Broadband Pricing in Europe found that the cost of broadband in Italy is less than €20 a month, compared with the UK at just over €30 a month. Greece wis the dearest at almost €70 a month.

Indeed, the difference in price between the best performer (Italy) and worst (Greece) was more than 300 per cent, said the survey.

Talking of the cost of broadband, Freeserve is tempting new users with a cut price offer for its 512k service.

From tomorrow, punters signing up to the service can get the first three months for £15.99 a month and £27.99 a month thereafter. The ISP is also chucking a free broadband modem and connection in with the offer too.

Elsewhere, Eclipse Internet has unveiled a trial of a phone-based "Broadband Status Checker".

By calling a special number, punters can check if their ADSL line has been, or is currently, affected by an outage.

The checker will also provide info on whether broadband services have been, or will be, affected by planned engineering works. ®