If your current contract expires, you’re moving home, or you just simply desire to enhance your internet connection, choosing the right broadband service for your needs is vital. With so many options out there, knowing what option is the most suitable for your needs can be confusing.
What is your budget?
Like everything else in life with regards to broadband plans, you’ll receive what you spend for. So, while it’s important to reduce costs and avoid paying for what you can’t afford, don’t settle for the cheapest deal just for the sake of it.
If you’re in a large household with many connected devices and users, or you enjoy watching movies through Netflix or download games onto your PlayStation or Xbox, you’ll find out that the cheapest packages won’t cover all your needs. If you choose a cheap broadband service with limited downloads, it could be more expensive over time when you exceed your monthly limit.
How many are living in your home?
When selecting the ideal broadband service, you have to think about who will be the users. The more people there are using the same connection, the slower internet speed will be for all. If your entire household is connected to an internet service with one provider, each of the connected devices will be sharing the speed of the internet at the same time. If, for instance, you have broadband speeds of 35Mbps and there are five people connected to your personal devices, you’ll receive 7Mbps each.
If you’re living alone or are just living with one person and both use the internet for things like email social media, or online shopping If you’re a single person, then you’re happy with a less basic and less expensive broadband.
However, if you’re part of an extensive family or live in the same house with several other housemates, you should consider purchasing a higher-speed connection that offers unlimited usage. Faster broadband will allow you to access the internet and stream content at the same time without any delay or interruption. And unlimited usage will let you do everything you like on the internet, without worrying about exceeding any limits.
What speed do you require?
You’ll find when you compare broadband packages they come with many speeds, ranging from low-cost, speedy ADSL copper cables that are around 11Mbps to superfast fibre optic broadband connections that have average download speeds that exceed 60Mbps.
Services that stream content like Netflix suggest minimum download speeds of 5Mbps to stream HD content. If there are multiple people in your household that like streaming TV shows and movies at the same time then it’s worth getting a faster connection. If either you or children are avid gamers who download lots of video games using the PlayStation or Xbox, then getting an efficient broadband connection is vital to prevent slowdowns and ensure smooth gameplay.
Do you need unlimited usage?
While looking for a broadband plan, you should also be aware of how much data you’re allowed to access per month. While most deals now offer unlimited use, you’ll still locate cheaper deals with a limit, for the example of 25GB. This is a good option in cases where you only use the internet to check your email or to do some online shopping now and then. But, if you opt for one of these affordable options and you exceed your limits then you could spend more than if opting for the unlimited plan.
If you are streaming content online via Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer or even some videos on YouTube is always worthwhile to sign up for a broadband plan which allows for unlimited use of the internet. This is because streaming video consumes a significant amount of data. With a limited-use package it’s likely that you’ll exceed your limit in just one or two episodes of Friends.
Do you need a home phone service?
If you’re not on Virgin Media, your broadband connection will probably be delivered through the same cables that are used for your landline. That’s why most broadband packages will include a home phone plan included in the package. While not many of us have a phone at home anymore in the day and age of smartphones, it’s still important to get the right deal to ensure that you’re not being taken advantage of.
If you still use the home phone frequently, then you should consider including any time calls in your package. This will allow you to make any number of call to UK numbers at any time during the week. Another option that’s less expensive is to have inclusive weekend and evening calls, which allow users to make calls on weekends or in the evenings during the week. This is an excellent option for those who work from on a Monday through Friday and therefore away from home to make calls during the week.
For the vast majority of broadband providers there’s no escaping the fact that you’ll pay for the phone service. If you do not use your home phone, then in order to save money, need to consider a pay-as-you-go deal. This means you will only be charged for you home phone only when you actually make use of it. If you don’t use it, then you will not be charged for it.
What TV package do I need?
Many broadband providers now offer you bundle deals which comprise both your internet connection and TV. Bundle deals are a good option for those who watch a lot of live TV, because you’ll save money by purchasing each service instead of each one separately.
There’s a lot on offer in the marketplace, from Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk and Now Broadband. They all provide a wide range of packages and channels which is why you need to choose the one that you prefer according to the type of television you’d like watch, be it movies soaps, sports, or soaps.
Sky as well as Virgin Media’s TV packages have the largest selection of channels, with well over 200 channels included in its basic bundles. You can also add films, sports and children packages depending on the content you enjoy. You can also stream on-demand services to your TV such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
If you’re a sports fanatic and want to get one or both either of the Sky Sports and BT Sport packages. Both are accessible to add to your Virgin Media or TalkTalk bundles. Although Sky Sports have the most live Premier League football matches, Formula 1, golf and cricket, BT have all the Champions League and Europa League matches.
BT TV and TalkTalk TV are good options in case you’re worried about the price. They have approximately 70 channels in their basic packages but also let you add more channels, should you desire.
If you’re not interested in sports and don’t often view live TV on digital, you should consider getting broadband only or a broadband and phone bundle. You can still watch loads of films and TV with streaming services such as Netflix as well as Amazon Prime Video. If this is the case for you it is important to get an internet connection that is fast and has the ability to use unlimited amounts of data.
What do you need to know about your region?
Each broadband provider may not be equipped to cover all regions across the UK. This means that the majority of the top broadband deals aren’t going to be available in your local area. BT offer the broadest choice of coverage that covers 90% of nation being able to connect to a BT broadband connection. Smaller providers may only be able to cover certain regions, such as Relish which only operates in areas in the central London in addition to Swindon.
