To have an expert compare broadband deals for you,
call Simplifydigital on 0800 542 4704.
Choosing a broadband deal
Picking the right broadband package can save you up to £252* a
year, and keep your family happily browsing away without
complications. All you need to do is take a few minutes to compare
the available deals in your area, or let an independent comparison
service like Simplifydigital make sure that the package you're
signing up ticks all the boxes for price, quality and value.
Quick start info:
If you're ready to jump right in and compare broadband deals,
call our free Switching Service on 0800 542 4704
or pop your postcode into our Ofcom-accredited Price
Comparison Calculator:
How do I choose a broadband package?
By price
One of the most important factors when choosing a broadband
service, is how much money it will save you over time. There are
two main expenses when it comes to broadband:
- The broadband service itself - this is how
much you are paying your ISP to provide an internet connection to
your property.
- Line rental - this is the amount you pay to
rent a landline from your ISP, in order for them to supply
telephone and broadband to your home.
View
cheap broadband packages
Often, line rental is far more expensive than broadband on its
own. Unless you have cable broadband from Virgin
Media, or satellite broadband from a provider
like
Astra Connect, unfortunately line rental is pretty much still
essential with most providers, even when you opt for superfast
broadband. A good tip is to pay your line rental up
front, as most ISPs offer significant discounts if you pay
the annual amount in one go, rather than in monthly
installments.
By speed
There are two main types of home broadband services widely
available in the UK, with significantly different "up to"
speeds:
- ADSL broadband - this is the older generation
of broadband that works via your copper telephone wiring, it is
normally limited to around 16Mbps maximum speeds.
- Fibre broadband - most UK ISPs now offer
superfast fibre broadband services, which suffer
less interference than ADSL and can carry signals over vaster
distances, with greater bandwidth. You can send and receive a lot
more data because the connection speed is a lot faster. Top fibre
optic broadband packages can supply you with speeds as quick as
120Mbps.
Fibre broadband availability varies by property - to check if you
can get fibre for your household, call Simplifydigital's free
Switching Service, or check with your ISP.
View fibre broadband packages
By availability
If you live in a rural area, fibre and standard ADSL broadband
may not be available. Or, your predicted speeds may be so low, that
you wish to consider other options. In this case, your two main
options are:
- Mobile broadband - available via a mobile
broadband "dongle" USB stick that you can easily connect to your
computer or laptop, or by "tethering" your mobile device to Wi-Fi
enabled device like a laptop or PC. Standard 3G mobile broadband
deals are often available with unlimited data, depending on how
much you're happy to pay, but the newer 4G standard, which provides
faster speeds and better reliability, usually carries data
restrictions.
- Satellite broadband - supplies broadband via a
satellite dish on the side of your house, sometimes the only option
for internet in remote and isolated locations.While speeds are
improving, they are still usually somewhat slower than standard
home options, and most satellite broadband packages do carry
monthly usage limits. Installation can also be a costly affair.
Astra Connect is one of the only satellite broadband providers to
offer unlimited data packages, up to 20Mb download speeds and
rent-to-own schemes that help you balance the cost of your
equipment.
View satellite broadband packages from Astra
Connect
Why are broadband deals dependent on area?
- Cable/fibre optic internet services are slowly being rolled out
across the UK, but because this involves an engineer manually
changing wiring and installing cabinets, ISPs are investing in
large, densely populated areas first. If you live in a rural area
or smaller town, fibre might not yet be available
- ISPs purchase or lease the lines for standard broadband or the
cables for fibre optic broadband from BT. If there is no commercial
agreement between BT and your preferred ISP in your area, they will
not be able to provide you with the deal you wanted and prices may
be higher to reflect the additional cost of supplying the
service
- If you live in a rural area, most ISPs are unable to supply
ADSL or fibre/cable broadband services because of the distance
between your house and the nearest exchange or cabinet. Take a look
at our guide to rural
broadband and learn more about your options
What if I can't get the broadband deal I want in my area?
Fibre not available for your property yet, or no ADSL broadband
option from your preferred supplier? If you can't get the exact
deal or ISP you want in your area, here are some top tips to help
you find an alternative:
- Pick a broadband deal that's cost effective -
cheap is great, as long as you're getting the internet speeds and
download allowance you need to enjoy all your regular online
activities without lags or service interruptions
- Understand all the costs - sometimes deals are
advertised as having 'half price' or 'free' broadband, but because
they carry line rental fees or up front costs, or the discount runs
out half way through your contract, it is actually less cost
effective than you think. Make sure you are aware of any 'hidden
costs', sometimes these might be unexpected, like paying postage on
a router, or paying an installation fee, so ask your ISP for a full
cost breakdown before committing
- Bundle your services - the best way to save is
to get all your digital services from one ISP, reducing your bills
and providing you with extra benefits, so take a look at the
broadband bundles available in your area, rather than just
broadband only deals
Call Simplifydigital
Still not sure which broadband deal to choose? Call
Simplifydigital on 0800 542 4704. We are
Ofcom-accredited and can help you to find the perfect broadband
package in minutes. We will compare over 11,000 deals and recommend
the best package based on where you live, what you want to pay, and
what you're looking to get out of your new broadband
connection.
We hope this handy guide has helped you pick the perfect
broadband service for your home. Remember we're always here to
help, and happy internetting!
