With so many internet service providers to choose from, choosing a broadband plan can be a difficult decision. This article will provide you with advice on how to choose the best plan for your needs, whether that is watching endless hours of television shows or simply checking your email.
Choosing the best broadband plan will factor in more than just what is the lowest priced plan. When looking for true value in your broadband plan there are a few considerations you will want to keep in mind.
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Speed
Different online activities require different broadband speeds, so the speed you need from your plan will depend largely on what you intend to use your internet for. Higher speeds are good for activities such as streaming video, but for basic web browsing any speed beyond 10Mbps does little to improve the time it takes to download a webpage.
The Federal Communications Commission in the United States offers a broadband speed guide, outlining the minimum speeds needed for various activities. It’s also important to keep in mind that having more users and more devices will require higher speeds. If you use the internet for video conferencing often, you need to consider upload speeds as well as download speeds when choosing a plan.
Data Limits
How much data you use will affect what broadband plan you choose. Some plans have limits on how much data you can upload and download. Because of this you might want to be aware of what activities count as a big download. While the average MP3 track is about 5MB, a DVD quality movie is 4GB.
Even those plans with unlimited data can have fair usage policies, which can enact penalties for being a data hog. Many companies have traffic management policies as well, which can affect your speeds during peak hours.
Value
You won’t just want to compare speeds and data limits, but prices will have a big influence in your decision about which service provider to go with. Some providers offer plans that bundle broadband service with other services like home phone service. To see some of these bundle offers, take a look at information about centuryLink bundles.
Some companies offer promotional plans, which can expire and increase the price, so ensure that you understand the contract you are signing up for. Read the small print for any additional fees, such as early termination fees or modem fees.
Service
You internet service provider’s reputation about customer service can impact your decision on what plan to choose. You don’t want to choose an internet service provider that has poor customer service.
If your internet seems to be slower than expected (you can test your speeds here), it may not necessarily be your service providers fault. Many factors can influence download speeds such as an old router or computer, your network configuration or having multiple users on the network at once. If you check these and your connection is still slow you may want to contact your service provider.
There is a lot to consider when choosing the best broadband plan to meet your needs. Choosing a broadband plan depends on more than just the best price. To get the best value for your money when choosing a broadband plan, you want the right mix of speed, available data, and service.