Better Broadband: How To Get The Best Deal
There’s no denying that Britons and all internet users in al honesty, want to have the best home broadband service for their needs.
The UK has an estimated 51.8 million smartphone users, and those people will undoubtedly be using their mobile devices at home via a broadband connection. Also, according to the Office for National Statistics, virtually all adults aged 16-44 years in Britain use the Internet.
It’s good that Britons are making use of today’s modern technology. But, something that many households are guilty of is not reviewing their broadband needs.
People that seldom switch providers typically get hit with a ‘loyalty penalty’ – i.e., they pay more than they should for their broadband service.
With all that in mind, it certainly pays to shop around for the broadband package for your household. And it’s something we should all do annually.
You’ll no doubt be wondering how to seek out the right package for your broadband requirements. This handy guide will show you how to find the best deals for home broadband and how you should choose the right one for your needs.
Do you need a landline?
Given that most people in Britain use a smartphone regularly, more households are finding they don’t need a landline.
Some people assume that you always need a phone line to get broadband services. The truth is it’s possible to get broadband without a landline through some providers such as Virgin Media.
You should bear in mind, though, that you may find it cheaper to have a landline and broadband package than to get a standalone broadband connection. It sounds like a strange concept, but it’s not an unusual one!
What speed do you need?
As you’ll have noticed, home broadband providers offer a variety of connection speeds. In general, the slower the speed, the less you have to pay for your broadband. Still, you should not select a broadband service solely on the cheapest package available.
You need to consider what speed will best meet your home’s Internet connection needs. The faster your broadband connection, the quicker it will be to download files, browse websites, and stream music and videos. When changing your internet with a new provider or even your current provider, you can utilize an internet speed test to ensure the internet you are purchasing will be the right fit for you and your needs. For this reason it is important to find the best internet in my area.
Light Internet use: 11 to 20 Mbps
If you live alone or with your partner, it’s unlikely your broadband speed demands will be high. Even if you stream music or videos, one person will usually be doing that while the other could be doing general Web browsing or sending emails.
Medium Internet use: 30 to 100 Mbps
Most families of up to four people fall under this bracket. There might be two or three people simultaneously using the Internet, and one person might be downloading files or streaming content.
Heavy Internet use: 350 to 500+ Mbps
The fastest Internet speeds for homes in the UK are around 350 Mbps. Households that usually require such speeds are those where people do a lot of online gaming, streaming videos in Ultra HD, and large file downloads.
VDSL vs fibre broadband: which is right for me?
When it comes to choosing the best deals for home broadband, you can usually choose from VDSL or fibre broadband. But what’s the difference, and which one is right for your needs?
VDSL broadband
VDSL broadband is a type of Internet access that uses conventional copper telephone lines and is the successor to the older ADSL technology. Providers that offer fibre broadband using standard telephone lines can typically offer speeds of up to 100 Mbps depending on the location.
VDSL is ‘mostly’ fibre broadband; the connection from the provider to your nearest telephone line cabinet uses fibre optic cables. From there to your home, the connection gets made over conventional copper telephone lines. This is known as FTTC (fibre-to-the-cabinet).
Fibre broadband
Truly fibre-optic broadband – also known as FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises) – from providers such as Virgin Media will always offer very high-speed Internet access. You can typically achieve a minimum download speed of 100 Mbps, going up to 500+ Mbps in some areas.
The beauty of truly fibre-optic broadband services is you can enjoy a fibre connection from the provider to your home. There are no copper lines used anywhere on your service.
VDSL versus fibre: weighing them both up
There are many things to consider when comparing your requirements versus what broadband providers are offering:
*VDSL services are usually cheaper than true fibre broadband providers;
*You need a telephone line to have a VDSL fibre broadband connection;
*True fibre broadband services let you achieve very high-speed Internet access;
*You don’t need to pay for a landline to have fibre from companies like Virgin Media.
Final thoughts
Now that you’re armed with information on what types of services are available, you can now determine the best Internet connection for your needs and ultimately seek out the best deals.
