Broadband beginners guide

Do I need broadband?

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A broadband connection has today become an essential amenity for most households, with more than 50 per cent of UK adults now having a broadband connection at home (Ofcom, 2007). It allows you to access the internet 24 hours a day as well as allowing you to access digital television through your broadband connection, internet telephony services (VoIP) and download music and movies at high speeds.

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Advantages:

• Broadband is always online: you don’t need to wait to connect, and can use the internet whenever you like without paying extra.
• Your flat rate bill replaces the call costs you’d make with a dial-up connection, so you can use the internet for longer without worrying about the cost.
• You can take advantage of the high-speed connection and fixed cost to download music, videos and images.

Disadvantages:

• You may need to install extra equipment such as a high-speed modem. These can be provided by your broadband ISP and are easy to install.
• You will have to pay a flat rate bill every month to continue using the service.

Broadband: A lifestyle choice

Signing up with a broadband ISP doesn’t just mean you can email whenever you want – it will change the way you live. Constant access to the internet means constant access to information about travel, entertainment, news and sport.

At the click of your mouse, you could also check your bank balance online, check showing times and ticket prices at the cinema, and find out which bus, train or tube would get you there on time. You could find a map of how to get there, and details of local restaurants to eat at after the film.

Something for everyone

And once you’re no longer worrying about the cost, your kids can enjoy the internet too (safely, of course – see Internet safety for details). There is plenty of web content available for them, whether they’re studying for exams or chatting to friends without costing a fortune on the phone bill.

The adults of the household can enjoy 24-hour digital radio from all over the world, constant news updates, and the ability to share and download music. With a broadband ISP, you can build up a comprehensive collection of all your favourite tracks, no matter how obscure, by searching for them on legal download sites such as Napster and iTunes. If you work from home, a broadband ISP will make your life much easier allowing you to keep in touch with contacts and receive business information as often as you need to – you’ll even be able to log into your office computer from home.

If you need help deciding whether broadband is right for you, or to choose a broadband provider, go to our Calculator. It’s simple and free to use.

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