Broadband for beginners: getting the right broadband service

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If you’re looking for a new broadband service in your area, it’s important to make sure you get the best provider and deal for your needs. But how do you decide between cheap internet and a bundle that includes digital TV, and just what is a good value broadband deal? We’re here to help.

In this guide

• How to find the best broadband dealin your area
• The different types of broadband service
• Bundle or broadband only?
• Ask the experts

How do I find the best broadband service in my area?

Using an independent, Ofcom-regulated comparisonwebsite can be a good place to start. By entering your postcode into the dealchecker you can see what’s available locally and then decide what sort ofservice would suit you best. Make sure that you consider your requirementsbefore you sign up.

Thereare three key things to think about when choosing a broadband service

• Downloadspeeds: how often you use the web and what for, willdetermine the kind of speeds you need. Here’s a breakdown of the differentspeeds available:
  • Basic broadband has a connection speed of at least 2Mbps. It’s slow, but sufficient forchecking emails and browsing websites.
  • Superfast broadbandusually refers to a speed of 25Mbps or above. This sort of connection willenable you to do most things without experiencing any lag. Superfast is aboutthe upper limit of ADSL broadband connections.
  • Ultrafast broadband describes the new super-superfast broadband connections made availableto Virgin Media fibre optic broadband customers. The speed of these connectionsis simply mind-boggling and can exceed 100Mbps.

• Usageallowance: lots of cheap Internet deals come with a usageallowance that caps your service, this might not be a problem if you don’t planto stream and download lots of content, but if you’re a frequent or heavyinternet user it could cost you more to sign up to a budget deal
• Servicequality: your proximity to the nearest satellite towerwill affect how fast and reliable your broadband is. Also look into customerservice records to see how other people have found interacting with theinternet service provider to be, when there’s a problem

What are the different types of broadband service?

Broadbandthrough a landline

Most broadband connections are through a landline.Your home telephone connection is used to provide your home with Internet. There are a couple of different kinds oflandline broadband connection.

• ADSL Internet (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) - available to anyone with a BTlandline, the original method of receiving broadband. While its connectionspeeds may not rival those of more modern broadband services like fibre opticcable, ADSL is still the most widely used type of broadband service

ChooseADSL if... value is more important than speed. We recommend you ask any potentialbroadband providers for a connection speed estimate before you sign on thedotted line. ADSL providers: PlusNet, Direct SaveTelecom and TalkTalk

• Fibre optic broadband is a faster connection that eliminates interference, giving you astronger signal. This is ideal for gamers or frequent streamers of media

Choose Fibre optic broadband if... you want a fast,reliable connection and are willing to pay a little extra

Fibre optic providers: PlusNet,BT, TalkTalk and Sky all provide fibre optic services via landline connectionsand will be able to give you information on whether or not you can receive thisconnection in your area.

Cable broadband

A fast fibre optic broadband service from VirginMedia, delivered via a network of glass and plastic cables that  that deliver fast connection speeds and highdownload speeds. Unfortunately, this service is not available everywhere,although Virgin Media's crack team of engineers is working on this.

Choose cable broadband if... youwant superfast speeds and don’t mind paying more

Cable broadband providers: VirginMedia

Satellite broadband

Unless you live in an extremely remote location,where ADSL and fibre optic broadband connections are unavailable, you’reunlikely to come across satellite broadband. It’s not particularly fastcompared to fibre optic, but it is fast enough to make it incredibly useful tohomes and businesses where other connections aren’t an option.

Chose satellite broadband if... youcan’t get a cable, ADSL or fibre optic connection in your area

Satellite broadband providers: BentleyWalker, Avanti and Tooway

Mobile broadband via 3G dongle

3G mobile broadband dongles contain a SIM card witha data allowance attached to it. It isn’t as fast as Cable or Fibre Opticbroadband, but it’s a great portable option, as you can get online anywherethere’s network signal. Quite a few home broadband providers have startedincluding unlimited Wi-Fi in their packages via open hotspots all over the UK,so it’s less necessary to carry a dongle with you nowadays.

Choose mobile broadband if... youwant to get online while out and about, and you don’t mind being restricted byslower speeds and a data allowance.

Mobilebroadband providers: EE, T-Mobile

Should I choose just broadband, or anInternet, digital TV and home phone bundle?

If you’re planning on getting a digital TV package,or you already have an existing digital TV deal from a provider like Sky orVirgin Media, it is more cost-effective to get all your digital services fromone provider. Customers who bundle their services with one provider often findthat they save a lot of money – Simplifydigital’s latest research suggests thatpeople who switch to a better bundle can save up to £278*.

If you’reunsure which deal to go for, call our independent switching helpline, on 0800977 5719

* 20% of Simplifydigital customers received anaverage saving of £278 per year. Data based on 2186 Simplifydigital recordsbetween 01 September 2012 – 31st December 2012.