subject: Choosing Broadband Packages [print this page] You may have been signed up to the same broadband company for a long time, but maybe youve recently been wanting to migrate to a new provider. Sometimes its nice just to have a change of pace, but actually changing your provider can also save you a lot of cash if you use a comparison search engine to find a good deal.
Not everyone knows everything about the many different broadband suppliers however, so weve compiled a list of all the things you should considering when looking for a new broadband supplier:
The Technological aspect
Dont be scared! Were not writing about any difficult concepts here, but there are a few different types of broadband that you should know about. In Britain the main types of technology are ADSL, Mobile, Cable and Satellite connections.
Where you reside is a major factor for deciding which technology you will use. If you live in rural areas, you might find that ADSL is the only service you can easily pick up, as it covers 90% of the country. Cable often offers a more complete service when it comes to speed so youll often need to be in a urban area to take advantage of it. Mobile and Satellite tend to be available across much of Britain but are currently quite a bit more expensive than fixed line services.
Dont forget to check on the availability of technology in your area before you even thinking about signing up to anything!
What Speed is right for you
The biggest factor that most people demand is speed, which is why how fast a connection might be is usually the main way that providers advertise to people. Speeds are measured by Mbps and in this country range from 0.5 Mbps (the slowest broadband available) to around 50 Mbps (Only available in selected urban areas through Virgin Media).
At the average speeds of the uk you are able to enjoy everything the internet has to offer, but if you drop below the average you may have trouble with the more interactive elements. Faster connections are usually available through cable services, although ADSL2 can also provide some very quick speeds if you are close enough to the Telephone exchange!
If only one person is online at once and you wont be doing any video streaming, you can stick with the slower speeds.
Bandwidth Limits
Bandwidth limits are put in place by ISPs to make sure you dont download more than you are allowed on your package each month Its important to make sure you dont end up with a package that boasts incredibly fast speeds but only lets you download a tiny amount a month
Bandwidth will determine everything from how many files you can download to how much you can stream..
If youve got a bigger family or you want to download plenty of big programs, we recommend looking for an unlimited solution.. You can find unlimited packages from most providers, but these tend to cost a little bit more than a normal deal. However, many packages also charge for going over their limits, so if you think you could do that, an unlimited deal is normally the best choice!
Comparing Your package Online
You should never underestimate how powerful a broadband comparison page. Being able to look at all the best deals on one page can seriously shorten the amount of time it takes to do your broadband research.
As well as providing you with a list of offers, comparison sites can also help by keeping you up to date with the latest news, review and features, and they even have a wealth of information available in their help sections
Its absolutely vital to incorporate broadband comparison into your research methods if you want to make sure youll get the best deal on your broadband!
