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Broadband beginners guide
Choosing a broadband provider
Broadband providers have sprung up all over the UK in the last few years. They are usually affiliated with telecoms companies, although there are also plenty of independent broadband providers out there. If you’re looking for a new broadband internet package, you will have about 100 options to choose from.
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Comparing broadband providers
The only way to get the best broadband provider, and the right service for you, is to shop around and compare what’s on offer. Simply going for the cheapest option might leave you with an insufficient service, so you need to think about your needs as a user and then find the package that’s right for you. You can compare broadband with our broadband calculator for the latest broadband deals in your area.
What to look out for
Broadband providers typically cater for one of three types of customer: occasional, average and busy internet users. Considering the different speeds and added extras, such as free internet security, that you might want will save you from signing up for a service that you don’t want or missing out on something that you’ll later need.
Broadband providers for the occasional user:
Light users don’t spend much more than an hour per day on the internet checking emails and visiting the odd website.
If this sounds like you, go for a basic "no frills" broadband provider. You shouldn’t be paying more than about £12 per month or worrying about download limits as they won’t affect you.
| Supplier | Package details | Speed (up to) | 1st year cost | Monthly charge | Download limit | Go |
| Plusnet - Value | 8Mb | £78.87 | £5.99 | 10GB |
Broadband providers for the average user:
Most people fall into the category of the average user, spending between two and four hours online most days and downloading files occasionally.
If you’re an average user, look for a broadband provider that caters for your needs. Don’t sign up for offers you don’t need, and watch out for very low download limits as you could end up being charged for exceeding them.
| Supplier | Package details | Speed (up to) | 1st year cost | Monthly charge | Download limit | Go |
| Broadband + Phone - Essentials Package | 24Mb | £83.88 | £6.99 | 40GB | ||
| Broadband: XL + Phone M | 20Mb | £235.00 | £20.00 | unlimited |
Broadband providers for the busy user:
Busy users normally work from home, play games online or download lots of music and movies from peer-to-peer sites. These users are on websites or downloading files up to 24 hours a day.
If you’re a busy user, there is a range of specialist broadband providers that cater for you. You will end up paying more, but this doesn’t mean you're being ripped off; take advantage of high-speed connections of up to 22Mb Broadband, and make sure your access is unlimited – and that means no Fair Usage policy.
| Supplier | Package details | Speed (up to) | 1st year cost | Monthly charge | Download limit | Go |
| Unlimited (3 months) | 24Mb | £269.16 | £20.43 | unlimited | ||
| Broadband: XXL + Phone: M | 50Mb | £335.00 | £28.00 | unlimited |
If you’re still not sure what kind of provider to go for, or you’d like help comparing them, use our Calculator. It’s free, and in just a couple of minutes you'll find the right package for all your broadband needs.
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