Answering Your Questions about Broadband Service

Thinking about getting a home broadband connection? Then you might have a few questions. Today we're answering the most commonly asked questions about broadband services, to help you make your decision. So, before you sign up with a provider, read on....

What Kind of Connection Should I Get?

You have four options for how to get your broadband service, and some of them are better than others. By far the most common ways to get broadband internet are either DSL or cable. A cable connection uses the same network that brings cable TV into your house, and so it's usually, but not always, combined with a TV package. It's pretty affordable and reliable, and speeds can be good. But the speed you get will depend on how many people are using the same service in your area. This might be a problem for people in busy areas where many customers use the same service. DSL uses telephone lines in and around your house to get data to and from your computer. Unlike older dial up internet, you can still use your phone whilst you're on the internet. This is the most convenient option for many people, since most houses already have the required telephone wires. Again, it's affordable and reliable. Speeds will depend on how far you are from a phone switching station, but in an urban area this isn't a problem, and only the most isolated rural areas with have issues with this. Fibre optic is the newest kind of broadband connection, and it offers much faster speeds than any other option. But not everyone in the UK can access a fibre optic network, and packages can be expensive. Finally, satellite broadband is the slowest option around, and also has pretty hefty installation fees. But for people living in extremely isolated areas, satellite broadband might be the only way that they can get service.

Which Provider Should I Use?

There are plenty of providers on the UK market, but not all providers cover all areas. This makes recommending one provider for everyone quite difficult. The best thing that you can do is research options in your area online. Firstly, you need to look for which companies provide service to your locality. You will then want to check on each provider's web page, where you should find somewhere to enter your post code to check that they do give good service in your area. You should also look at online speed tests to see what kind of average speeds a provider gives in your area. It's a good idea to ask your neighbours which providers they use, and whether or not they're happy with their speeds.

Why Should I Consider Business Broadband Packages?

If you freelance or run a business from home, then business broadband packages are worth looking at. A normal broadband package is fine for most regular users. But business broadband packages offer special services to business customers. They tend to have high data limits. Plus, they usually come with a lot of technical support, including twenty four hour hotlines that you can call in case of problems. And many business packages have extra services like static IP addresses that business users may want to take advantage of.

Why Should I Combine My Services?

Combining more than one service into a contract is called bundling. The advantage of bundling is that you get a far cheaper price than you would if you bought each service separately on a separate contract. With many broadband providers you can combine either phone and internet, TV and internet, or all three services together to get better prices. If you want to save some money, then bundling is a good idea.

What's a Data Cap?

Some broadband packages will give you a data cap, which is a monthly limit for the amount of data that you can use for your fixed monthly fee. Everything you do on the internet uses some data, whether it's opening a web page, downloading or watching a video. With a capped package all of this data will add up until you reach your monthly limit. What happens after you reach your monthly limit will depend on the provider. Sometimes your internet speeds will be slowed, occasionally service will be cut off completely, and sometimes you'll simply be charged more money for using extra data. If you don't like the idea of a data cap, you can get an unlimited data plan.

What's the Difference Between Unlimited and Truly Unlimited?

If you're observant you'll notice that some providers offer unlimited internet whilst some offer truly unlimited, and these two things are actually different. Truly unlimited packages quite simply mean that you can use as much data as you wish, so you can do whatever you want on the internet whenever you want. Unlimited packages are a little different. Unlimited will mean that the provider employs a fair usage policy. This policy will allow the provider to slow down your data speeds if they think that you're using too much data, or during peak periods when many people are online. For the average user, a fair usage policy shouldn't really be a problem, since it's unlikely that you're going to use enough data for the provider to really do anything. If you're a heavy user though, you might want to go with a truly unlimited plan. Also, be aware that if everyone in your family is using the same connection and the same contract, then it's possible that you'll trigger the fair usage policy simply because the company will consider everyone in your household to be the same user.

How Long Do I Need to Sign Up For?

Broadband contracts come in a variety of lengths, and generally you can sign up for anywhere from twelve months to twenty four months. Usually, monthly rates are cheaper on longer contracts. But do remember that breaking a broadband contract can be expensive, so you'll want to try to stick with the provider for the entire contract period, which may affect how long you're willing to sign up for.