How to get better broadband access

There are plenty of companies offering internet access. Here’s the criteria you need check through when deciding which service to go for…

How should I connect?

There are two types of internet connection. Cable internet uses underground fibre optic cable lines; ADSL uses a BT phone line. Which one you go for depends on which you can access. BT estimates that ADSL broadband is available to around 99.8 per cent of people in the UK. Cable isn’t as readily available as ADSL. You can check which one you can access at Virgin Media.

The biggest difference between the two connections is that if you go for cable internet, you’ll be tied to Virgin Media – the only provider of cable broadband in the UK; in contrast, many companies offer deals for ADSL broadband.

If you’re switching from cable to ADSL, or vice versa, you’ll have to remove your modem because a cable modem won’t work with ADSL, and vice versa.

What’s best for me?

Now you need to choose an ISP (Internet Service Provider) that offers a package that suits how much time you want to spend on the internet and what sort of things you’ll be downloading.

The cheapest packages usually come with a cap, so you’re limited to how much you can download each month. Some offer a 1GB limit and, if more than one person in your house is planning to play games and stream or download large video files, that’s going to get eaten up within days.

Some ISPs only charge a little more for unlimited monthly use and, if you’re planning to do much video downloading, you’d be wise to choose this option. If you use the internet primarily for emails and web surfing, but you need a little heavier use on the odd day, some ISPs, such as Metronet, offer a ‘payas- you-go’ service, so you pay for every MB over your monthly limit.

If people in your household like to watch a lot of television or use a landline phone, then some ISPs offer television, phone and internet deals which include broadband access for free, or very little extra on top, although your monthly usage is usually limited.

What speed do I need?

The fastest broadband speed currently available is 24Mbps. Web sites don’t load quicker, and playing games online doesn’t really feel any different, but when downloading large files, you do see an increase in download speed – as in seconds, not minutes.

You’re unlikely to see the full potential of your connection if you’re using ADSL though, and this is for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the further you live from your local BT exchange, the slower your connection will be; and if there are a lot of people in your area with access to the same connection, then at peak time – when everyone is on the internet – the overall speed will decrease. Until we’re able to stream high-definition content, an 8Mbps connection – the present average internet speed – is sufficient for most.

What’s included?

Part of your decision might be based on what accessories are included. Some ISPs include a modem; some charge you extra. Some provide a wireless modem; some don’t. If you’re planning to share the internet with other desktop or laptop users in your house, consider a wireless modem. If the ISP you choose doesn’t provide one, you’ll need to pay around £30 extra for a third-party modem.

Also consider whether the package includes a sufficient number of email addresses. Some ISPs only offer one email address which, if you’ve got a family, will mean that you’ll need to get each of their email addresses from elsewhere, such as Windows Live Hotmail.

Finally, establish the contract period, and find out if you can cancel it early. Some contracts last 12 months while some are 18 months long; some ISPs allow you to cancel for a modest fee.