Searching for the right Provider and making an informed choice on a Broadband Plan is proving more and more painstaking everyday. Deregulation has brought about the end of days when Telstra (BigPond) and Optus were the only ISP carriers around. Now the likes of Dodo, Internode, AAPT, TPG and many more are providing Australians with Broadband Internet as well. But who to choose? With so many new Internet Service Providers and Resellers constantly springing up with various Broadband deals and products, its made choosing a suitable plan very difficult indeed. This was the very reason Broadband Guide was established, to simplify the process, provide comparisons, and ease the complex nature of choosing Broadband Internet products.
Here’s are a few simple pointers that we hope will assist you when choosing a plan thats right for you.
Budget
How much are you prepared to pay per month? Try compare it to your home phone & mobile bills, or reach a figure that reflects the amount of time you intend on using Broadband Internet. * Remember, it can pay to start on a lower priced plan as it usually doesn’t cost anything to upgrade, but it can cost you to downgrade! Also keep in mind the length of your contract and what it means (or costs) to break it if necessary.
Usage
Perhaps one of the hardest choices to make when it comes to choosing a Broadband Plan revolves around the download usage limit. Again, how frequently are you intending on using the Internet and what for? Budget/New – Light Use: New, occasional, and light frequent users who intend on using the Internet for surfing, chatting, banking, paying bills and emailing will use a small amount of data. Popular/Light – Medium Use: Those intending on constantly using the Internet and to download files such as music and pictures will start pushing the limit a little further. Medium – Heavy Use: Then we have the heavy users, those that are always online and constantly download huge files such as Movies, Major Software Applications and regularly Stream Video.
Types
Availability aside, most ISP’s offer quality products and reliable services. ADSL is by far the most common choice of Broadband among Australians, as its infrastructure is already in place and can be installed quickly. Cable is next in line but is generally limited to metro/major regional areas. Cable is currently on par with ADSL2/2+ Speeds, however its robust nature also allows other services such as Pay TV to run parallel on the same line. After these types comes Wireless Broadband Internet. Its nowhere near as fast and robust as ADSL & Cable, yet its technology and coverage is rapidly growing and can be very appealing for its mobile flexibility.
Bundling
Bundling services like Mobile Phone & Home Phone accounts with your Broadband Internet can save you more than a few dollars every month. Reduced monthly Broadband fees and or other special entitlements can make bundling your Internet service attractive. Bundling is displayed on Broadband Guide products where applicable, so keep an eye out for these options.
Broadband Guide highly recommends that you visit the following sections. These guides plus heaps more Tips and Faq’s on Broadband related information can be found in our Broadband Help Centre.
Broadband Speed Comparisons - Find out about, and compare Broadband Speeds
Download Usage Guide – Facts, Figures and Measurements on Downloading
Good Luck!
Regards,
Broadband Guide
Thanks for the advice