Great broadband

As the use of broadband continues to grow in the UK, so the packages available continue to develop. It is important to shop around and understand what you need before taking the plunge.

Broadband, a contraction of 'broad bandwidth', is the provision of high-speed data-transmission rates over a phone line, digital cable or satellite connection. It enables faster Internet connectivity and email, and has changed the way people use the Internet, for various things like shopping, gaming, communicating and general entertainment.

When you’re thinking about broadband, you need to think about what you’re going to use it for, and what’s important to you.

Price may be important, but you know you’ve got to get broadband if only to free up the house telephone that can’t be used when the computer is connected to the Internet. In such a situation, you might want to simply opt for one of the cheaper broadband packages.

The chances are, however, that you will find wider use for broadband, and that will mean looking more deeply into what each broadband provider can deliver.

Things to look for are:
• Usage
• Speed
• Download limits
• Set-up costs
• Contract period
• Monthly cost
• Costs after one year

Usage varies from light usage through medium usage to heavy internet usage.

Speeds can vary from 2Mbps through 8, 10, 16 and 20Mbps all the way to the fastest speed of 24Mbps. However, speeds in excess of 2 Meg are only available in certain areas, and top speeds vary significantly, one variant being how far away you live from the exchange.

Limits on downloads can be as low as 2GB, and as high as unlimited.

Set-up costs can be £30, but in many cases set up is free.

Contract periods can be monthly, or as long as 24 months in some cases.

Costs, of course, vary with the package you have. They can be as low as £3.75 per month, or as high as £37 per month.

Broadband is a big growth area and all broadband providers are competing for your business.