Choosing a broadband provider can be a nightmare. There are so many choices and it’s so important to find the right one for you especially if you work from home and depend on a reliable network. I only have a very limited amount of time to work each day, so if our broadband goes down in that period, I pretty much lose a days work, which obviously isn’t something I can afford to do very often.
The first thing to think about is the type of broadband available to you. This can depend on where you live.
- ADSL broadband is a connection provided over your home phone line. You generally need to have your phone connected with BT and then add broadband. The speed of ADSL broadband varies from area to area.
- Fibre broadband – fibre cable is much faster than ADSL and usually gives a more consistent service.
- Cable is faster than ADSL, but not yet available everywhere.
- Satellite – if you live in a very rural area where the network coverage is slow, satellite may be your best option. This is generally more expensive than other types of broadband.
- Mobile broadband uses your mobile signal to connect to the internet. You need a dingle or a Mi-Fi which connects to your mobile network via your PC. This is also handy for connecting to the internet when you’re travelling or out and about.
The next thing to think about is the package. If you’re not online a huge amount choose a low usage package ( you can always upgrade later ).
I work from home so need reliable super fast broadband, so chose fibre. I am also going to look at a business broadband package in the new year.
If you like to stream movies or play a lot of online games you’ll need unlimited download limits and probably fibre broadband over ADSL. If you’re a family with multiple people downloading data this is probably the right package for you too. I can only imagine how much downloading there will be going on in our house in a few years when we have three teenagers each with their own devices.
If you’re a student, don’t forget there are often special student broadband deals and discounts, so don’t forget to ask! There are lots of great broadband comparison sites on the internet where you can compare packages. Remember to consider: broadband speed, monthly cost, set up cost, contract length and download limits. There’s a lot to think about so a good comparison site is essential for finding the best overall broadband deal.
Are you happy with your broadband? Are you looking to change? Do you tend to swap around a bit or stay with the same provider? Let me know if you’re with someone you love or if you think your on a great deal. I’d love to see how my broadband package stacks up. In fact I’m off to check a comparison site now! Everything costs so much these days, so it’s important to save where you can, isn’t it?
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