Switching Broadband Suppliers: Getting More Bang for your Buck – Part Two

December 13, 2009 | By admin In Watch TV Abroad |

In the last part of this guide I told you how to determine the speed of your broadband connection using online broadband speed tests to see if you’re getting your money’s worth, I also covered how to choose what speed of broadband you realistically need without spending needless extra amounts on bandwidth you aren’t going to use.

Well now we go on to the usage section of this guide, due to the vast nature of the Internet it can be used in millions of different ways from talking to a family member halfway round the world to looking up the recipe for that cheesecake you loved as a kid. Depending on how you use the Internet can determine whether you can get cheaper broadband or not.

Are limits any excellent?

Internet Service Suppliers provide Broadband to millions of people in this country, and each one has thousands in any one town or city. Providing a service to these customers is exactly like providing running water, in order to ensure everyone gets their honest share then sometimes limits have to be place in place, with internet suppliers you may be able to get a cheaper deal by agreeing that you will only use a certain amount per month.

This is normally measured in Gigabytes and is recommended for people who don’t use the Internet that much, people who have opted for this service have found that their service is much quicker than the same speed group for people who are on unlimited download services. Obviously if you go over your limit then it is charged in a similar way to a mobile phone contract.

Unlimited on the other hand allows you to download to your heart’s content with no dread of extra charges for being an Internet-fiend for one month. Unlimited plans have come under scrutiny in recent years in that they are not necessarily “unlimited” per say, in order to maintain the same quality of service to all their customers in your area your broadband supplier may have a honest-use policy, as if you are downloading movies and large files all the time then it will have an effect on other people’s service. In these cases repeated offenders are normally sent a letter saying that they should lower their usage as it isn’t honest to others, if the behaviour continues then it has been known for suppliers to indiscriminately lower the user’s speed but not reduce the cost.

So for cases where you know you are not going to be downloading large files (typically less than 5gb/month) then you may like to consider looking into applying limits on your connection, it could be the key you need to cheap broadband!

Packages: Sweetening the deal

The lines between the Internet and traditional media such as Television and Radio have been blurred quite a bit in the past few years, with sites like Youtube and the BBC’s iPlayer these days many people are looking to the World Wide Web for their fix of entertainment.

The Cable and Satellite companies have recognized this fact and have rolled with the punches, most media companies now offer cheaper rates on bundled packages, normally consisting of broadband, TV and landline phones, Virgin Media include packages that include mobile telephones too since they have their own mobile network.

Huge savings can be made if you are willing to change all your needs to one supplier, typically if you get all three from the list above then you can pay as small as £30 per month for the lot, it may be worth mentioning that these deals tend to offer the typically average speeds and deals and so can be excellent for the majority of internet users but those who are desperate for lightening quick speeds can end up having to pay a premium on top of their bundle, that said apart from the savings it can also help with managing bills, or at least cut them down to one.

At this point you should have a excellent thought of what your usage needs are, whether you’re a download-aholic or just a casual user and whether considering a supplier with download limits is a realistic option for you. As well as the speed you determined in the previous part of this guide you should also be aware of bundled packages where you can save money by consolidating your home services. The next part of this guide will cover how to go about ordering new broadband and if you already have broadband then I’ll talk you though the task of saying goodbye to your ancient supplier and hello to your new one.

Andy Adams is an experienced UK writer working broadband

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