Learn what you should look for when you’re considering a new broadband package to connect your home to the internet quickly and reliably.
There are several things to consider when buying new broadband. Find out the most important factors when looking for new a new provider, such as speed, bandwidth and data.
When you’re looking for the perfect broadband package for your home, it can quickly get confusing. After all, every company offers different packages, with their own unique speeds, data caps and added extras. Find out what you should look for when buying broadband, and why each of these features is important for high-quality home broadband.
Bandwidth
One of the more underrated aspects of high-quality broadband is the bandwidth that the package offers. The best analogy for this is a water pipe, with the pipe representing the bandwidth. A wider pipe will deliver more water, servicing more taps and appliances, so a higher bandwidth connection will provide you with the capacity for more devices. This is especially important as modern homes today often use a range of devices at the same time, including mobile phones, TVs, desktop computers and smart speakers.
Higher bandwidth means each of these devices will perform effectively, no matter how many people are online at any one time, so you make the most of your home’s digital infrastructure.
Reliability
Depending on what you do for work, a reliable internet connection could be a necessity. In a recent study, 79% of people said they had internet reliability issues in the past year (read more here). For someone working from home, this could really impact their productivity. Look at the uptime of all of the providers on offer and research what their customers think of the services. This is ideal for informing you about the benefits of each broadband package and which you might benefit from avoiding.
Added bonuses
Most broadband providers offer some added extras with their packages. This varies from cashback and vouchers to routers and gadgets (tablets and smartphones). As broadband services are mostly homogenous, adding extra benefits to their packages is one of the main ways that providers attract new customers. Look at all of the optional extras that companies are offering and use these to make an informed decision about which is the right broadband package for your personal needs. This shouldn’t be the main factor when making your decision, but it may help you narrow down your choice if you’re struggling to choose between two providers. After all, why overlook a gift if that company was a candidate anyway.
Customer service
The way that a company treats its customers is a fundamental part of your broadband experience. The more time a company spends on ensuring that its customers have a good experience, the higher the standard of that product. This is especially the case with a utility, such as broadband. We rely on broadband for our work, our leisure time and even ordering necessities like food. By completing thorough research before buying a broadband package, you ensure that the company you buy from looks after its customers. This guarantees faster customer service and more uptime on your broadband.
Contract length
Aside from the tangible aspects of your broadband, consider some aspects of the contract that you sign. These include the length of the contract, break clauses from the contract, and any penalties or fines in the contract.
The way that your contract with the broadband company is structured is a fundamental part of your agreement with the company, and as a consumer, you want all the flexibility you can get. Consider short-term contracts that are still at a reasonable price, so you can change providers if you’re not getting what you expect from the business.
Make the right choice
By balancing all of these factors, you’re more likely to find a package that works perfectly for your personal needs. We all have unique broadband usages, so striking a balance between bonuses, bandwidth and reliability will ensure that you have a suitable network.
Knowledge of broadband speeds
Megabits per second, or Mbps, is the unit of measurement for internet speeds. However, megabits and megabytes differ from one another. Megabits are denoted by the lowercase “b” in Mb, whereas megabytes are denoted by the capital “B” in MB.