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Comparing
Broadband Providers
Gone are the days of standard dial-up internet connections in the UK. Those who suffered the pain of slow download speeds and intermittent services can suffer no more as basic broadband packages are now as cheap if not cheaper than dial-up. Broadband coverage has grown at an alarming rate and unless you live in a sparsely-populated area, you are bound to have a suitable service in your region.
16 million households in Great Britain have internet access. This has increased by over 1 million households during the past year and over 5 million households since 2002.
56% of all UK households had broadband in 2008, up from 51 per cent in 2007.
With so many offers available on the market, it is no wonder that finding the right provider can be complicated. Do I go for the fastest, the cheapest, the best customer service or the one with the free gift?
In order to make the process easy and right for you, there are a few things that you would need to consider.
Price
Let`s be honest, we would all love to have the best possible package but knowing your budget from the very beginning can save you a lot of hassle later on. Packages start at £10.49 per month for a standard home connection. Mobile broadband starts from as little as £7.49 per month. The packages then vary dependant on a wide range of functions. (Also don`t forget that line rental may need to be factored into the price which is £11 per month through BT)
Speed
The speed of an internet connection is measured in MBps (Megabytes per second). Speeds vary from 1MBps to 50MBps, the higher the amount the faster the internet connection and download speed will be. For downloading large files such as HD Movies, a standard length HD film can be obtained within an hour. For standard internet usage and emails, speed should not be a concern.
Customer Service
Broadband users have found their biggest frustrations lie with the standard of customer service with their provider. Being realistic, broadband is still a relatively new technology and to have a truly "problem-free" service is asking a lot. Problems regularly reported include intermittent service issues, receiving under-strength broadband speed and companies blaming other providers for their errors creating more frustrations for the customers. It`s worth researching impartial reviews and statistics relating to each provider which should be available on the internet.
Usage limits and terms of usage
Be aware that some packages will limit the amount of files you can download per month, always read the small print as contracts can last up to 24 months!
Sky and Virgin Media offer packages that tie in with your digital/satellite TV contracts, this could work out cheaper if you are already a customer.
TalkTalk and BT provide services alongside their standard phone services with a variety of packages suitable for homes and businesses.
Finally, always consider internet specific providers such as Be broadband, Tiscali, Demon, PlusNet and even the Post Office. You pay the £11 line rental to BT and they charge you for the internet service in addition.
As with every product out there, having the best choice gives you an opportunity to get the best deal. For more information go to Broadband review.