Broadband is the technology that allows high speed access to the internet and is usually through the either the telephone network of copper wires (ADSL broadband), cable/fibre optic (Virgin Media use this technology) or by the 3G mobile network (mobile broadband).What to consider when buying a broadband package:
Broadband Speed :
Broadband speed is measured by the amount of data your connection can send and receive in Megabytes per second (Mbps).Most UK broadband packages now range from 2Mbs to 24 Mbps though they usually deliver less than the quoted maximum packages speed. If you currently have broadband and want to check your current speed try our broadband speed test. If you just plan on using broadband to surf the net and send emails there is no need to pay more for a fast broadband package. Faster packages are great if you plan on downloading movies and music quickly or if you want to play online games.
Download limits, unlimited broadband and fair usage policies
Some broadband packages limit the amount of information you can download from the internet in any month. When ever you view a web page or download attachments from emails you download a small amount of data from the web. However if you are a light internet user then you shouldn’t need to be to concerned with download limits with most home broadband deals and may want to consider the check out our list of cheap broadband deals .
Heavy internet users and those who regularly download films, music or play online games will download far greater amounts if data and will need a package which offers higher download limits or unlimited broadband which has no limits. Though some broadband providers claim to offer unlimited downloads they are known to restrict the usage of very heavy downloader’s by slowing down the broadband connections in what they call their “fair usage” policy. Mobile broadband packages tend to have much lower download limits and you can incur quite large charges if you exceed these.
Broadband Cost and reading the small print
It is important to take into account the complete cost of your broadband connection including all the hidden extras when choosing a package. We summarise the total cost you will pay in your first year with a new broadband deal including all the hidden costs. Some providers will offer lower costs for an introductory period, often the first three months of the contract, before moving you to a higher monthly charge. Many providers also charge a set up fee and some providers will lock you into long contracts of up to 24 months in the case of some mobile broadband deals. All of these factors are considered and clearly laid out in our broadband comparison tables.
Broadband bundles
You may be able to save money if you bundle your phone, broadband and digital TV services together. Sky, Virgin and Tiscali offer broadband bundles. If you just want broadband check out our list of broadband only packages.
Contract Length and Pay as you go broadband
Check the contract length before you sign up to a broadband provider. Most providers have a 12 months contract length though this is longer with many mobile broadband offers. There are a number of short contract (1 month) and pay as you go broadband offers available. These are often popular if you are likely to move house in the next 12 months and also prove popular with students.
Connection Reliability and customer service
Occasionally you broadband connection may go down, some providers are more reliable than others and whilst it is hard to track the exact performance of each provider our customer broadband reviews should give you a good idea if the most reliable broadband providers. Customer service is another factor worth taking into consideration; there has been a growing dissatisfaction with UK broadband providers basing their customer service and technical support departments overseas where problems can often take longer to be resolved. A number of broadband providers advertise UK based customer and technical support.
Switching broadband
If you are switching from one broadband provider to another you will need to call your existing broadband provider and as for your MAC code which you then need to give to your new provider to ensure a seamless transition with little or no downtime. See our guide for more information on how to easily switch broadband provider or beat your current deal.
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